It was heart-breaking to her to realise her powerlessness, when he could so easily empty his purse.

She was, of course, happy that such a windfall had come to the poor, but she felt as if she were greatly diminished in her former self-estimation.

She no longer had the same happiness in giving, but was disturbed and sad that she had so little to distribute, while he had so much.
The young man, not understanding her feelings, thinking to conquer her esteem by an increase of gifts, redoubled his charity, and thus daily made hers seem less.
Was not it exasperating to run against this fellow everywhere; to see him give an ox wherever she offered an egg?
In addition to all this, she was obliged to hear his praises sung by all the needy whom he visited: "a young man so good, so kind, and so well brought up." She was a mere nothing now.

They talked only of him, spreading out his gifts as if to shame hers.

Notwithstanding her firm determination to forget him, she could not refrain from questioning them about him.