What charmed and delighted me most in the Scorpion was a pet phrase of
his that he was constantly using: "_Leave that to me!_"
He said it every minute, a hundred times a day. Occasionally there might
be a slight variation; he might say, "Don't trouble your head about
that"; or "Never mind, I'll see to it." But as a rule it was the brief
enchanting sentence: "Leave that to me."
I cannot possibly describe the sense of utter relief and comfort with
which those few words inspired me. I felt unburdened, as it were,
exonerated, set free from every responsibility, from every anxiety,
almost from every thought. It was as if Prilukoff had said of my very
soul, "Leave it to me," so complete was my sense of tranquil
relinquishment.
In truth I had never given much thought to the practical side of life.
No sense of responsibility had ever weighed upon my narrow shoulders;
there had always been so many people around me to give me advice, to
direct me, to think and to act on my behalf!
When I had suddenly found myself alone in the world with Tioka and Elise
I had felt more frightened and more helpless than they. But now, here
once more was some one ready to direct me, ready to think and act and
decide for me. Occasionally, realizing my position, I exclaimed
anxiously: "Dear me, what shall I do about money?"