He got promotion and lived happily to the end of his life.
LOVE AND BREAD
The assistant had not thought of studying the price of wheat before he
called on the major to ask him for the hand of his daughter; but the
major had studied it.
"I love her," said the assistant.
"What's your salary?" said the old man.
"Well, twelve hundred crowns, at present; but we love one another...."
"That has nothing to do with me; twelve hundred crowns is not enough."
"And then I make a little in addition to my salary, and Louisa knows
that my heart...."
"Don't talk nonsense! How much in addition to your salary?"
He seized paper and pencil.
"And my feelings...."
"How much in addition to your salary?"
And he drew hieroglyphics on the blotting paper.
"Oh! We'll get on well enough, if only...."
"Are you going to answer my question or not? How much in addition to
your salary? Figures! figures, my boy! Facts!"
"I do translations at ten crowns a sheet; I give French lessons, I am
promised proof-correcting...."
"Promises aren't facts! Figures, my boy! Figures! Look here, now, I'll
put it down. What are you translating?"
"What am I translating? I can't tell you straight off."
"You can't tell me straight off? You are engaged on a translation, you
say; can't you tell me what it is? Don't talk such rubbish!"
"I am translating Guizot's _History of Civilisation_, twenty-five
sheets.
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