“And there came an angel out of heaven who said, ‘Be this as you have said.’
“And he became a stone-cutter. And he cut stones out of the rock with heavy labour, and he laboured hard for small wages, and was contented.”
“Very nice,” said Duclari, “but now you still owe us the proof that this little ‘Oepi’ ought to have been imponderable.”
“No, I did not promise to prove that. I only desired to tell you how I got acquainted with her. When I had done with my story, I asked: ‘And you, “Oepi,” what would you choose, if an angel from heaven came to ask you what you desired?’ ”
“Sir, I should pray him to take me with him to heaven.”
“Is not that beautiful?” said Tine to her guests, who perhaps thought it very foolish.
Havelaar stood upon his legs, and wiped away something from his forehead.
