"Excuse me," he said, with more dignity than I would have thought possible considering his appearance, "I do not believe I have the pleasure of knowing you. Undoubtedly you have mistaken me for someone else." And with a quick decision he turned to the shop girl and said in a loud voice, "Kindly pack me up this one here. I will take it with me." He pointed at one of the largest and most expensive of the puddings.

The girl took down the pudding from its stand and started to make a parcel of it, while he pulled out拉出 a worn little black pocketbook and began counting out shillings and pennies on to the counter. To save his "honour" he had been forced into a purchase which he could not possibly afford. How I longed for the power to unsay my tactless words! It was too late though, and I felt that the kindest thing I could do now would be walk away.

"You pay at the desk," the shop girl was telling him, but he did not seem to understand and kept trying to put the coins into her hand. And that was the last I saw or the old man. Now he can never go there to sample pudding any more.

pack
vt. put (things) into boxes, cases, etc. 把（东西）打包（或装箱） 打开包装unpack
stand
n. （货）架；（货摊）
worn
a. damaged by use or wear 破烂的，损坏的
pocketbook
a. a wallet for money and personal papers 皮夹
shilling
n. 先令
long
vi. wish earnestly 渴望
unsay
vt. take back (sth. that has been said) 收回（说过的话）
tactless n. tact=strategy策略
a. 不策略的
coin
n. metal money 硬币