"Thank you, Mrs. Falk, but we mustn't be immoderate! May I begin now? Please check me by the manuscript."
"'Presents: H.M. the Queen, forty crowns. Countess Fabelkrantz, five crowns and a pair of woollen stockings. Wholesale merchant Schalin, two crowns, a packet of envelopes, six steel nibs, and a bottle of ink. Miss Amanda Libert, a bottle of eau-de-Cologne. Miss Anna Feif, a pair of cuffs. Charlie, twopence halfpenny from his money box. Johanna Pettersson, half-dozen towels. Miss Emily Björn, a New Testament. Grocer Persson, a bag of oatmeal, a quart of potatoes, and a bottle of pickled onions. Draper Scheike, two pairs of woollen under....'"
"May I ask the meeting whether all this is to be printed?" interrupted her ladyship.
"Well, of course," answered the pastor.
"Then I must resign my post on the Administrative Committee."
"But do you imagine, Lady Rehnhjelm, that the society could exist on voluntary contributions if the names of the donors did not appear in print? Impossible!"
"Is charity to shed its radiance on petty vanity?"
"No, no! Don't say that! Vanity is an evil, certainly; we turn the evil into good by transforming it into charity. Isn't that praiseworthy?"
"Oh, yes! But we mustn't call petty things by high-sounding names. If we do, we are boastful!"
"You are very severe, Lady Rehnhjelm! Scripture exhorts us to pardon others; you should pardon their vanity."