One afternoon as we sat over glasses
of tea at Malbin's he said: "If you want to drink a glass of real
Russian tea, come up some evening. We shall all be very glad to
see you."
I felt the color mounting to my face as I said, "I don't think your
daughter would like it."
"My daughter?" he asked, in amazement. "But I have three
daughters."
"The one that spent some time at the Rigi Kulm in the Catskills
last summer."
"Anna?" he asked, with still greater surprise, as it were
"I don't know her first name, but I suppose that's the one."
"If she was at the Rigi Kulm, it's Anna."
"Well, I had the pleasure of meeting her there, but I am afraid I
was somewhat of a persona non grata with her," I said, in a partial
attempt to make a joke of it
He dropped his glance, leveled it at me once more, and dropped it
again
"Why, what was the matter?" he inquired, in great embarrassment
"Nothing was the matter. A case of dislike at first sight, I
suppose."
"Still--"
"You'd better ask her, Mr. Tevkin." He made no reply, nor did he
repeat his invitation.
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