My hopes rose high and methought my evil days were at an end, and I stood waiting for alms to be given unasked and for wealth scattered on all sides in the dust.
Grandmother Stannik held a very exalted position there. The city had granted her permission to sit at the door of the church with her hand held out for alms. Beggar?
My mother spoke very little about her father. I only knew that as soon as he had the opportunity, my grandfather sent my mother to a private school somewhere up in the Swiss alms.