asm, but
they considered her rough, and one of them had a long story to tell
about a box on the ear, the effects of which he claimed to have felt for
a week afterwards.

"I was not one of her customers. In the first place I had no money; in
the second, I have always been obliged to look upon eating and drinking
as a necessity, sometimes too much so, so that it has never entered my
head to take pleasure and delight in it. And so we took no notice of
each other. Only once, in order to tease me, my colleagues made her
believe that I wanted some of her cakes. She stepped up to my desk and
held her basket out to me. 'I don't want anything, my dear young woman,'
I said. 'Well, why do you send for me then?' she cried angrily. I
excused myself, and as I saw at once that a practical joke had been
played, I explained the situation as best I could. 'Well then, at least
give me a sheet of paper to put my cakes on,' she said. I tried to make
her understand that it was chancery paper and didn't belong to me, but
that I had some paper at home which was mine and that I would bring her
some of it. 'I have enough myself at home,' she said mockingly, and
broke into a little laugh as she went away.

"That had happened only a few days before and I was thinking of turning
the acquaintance to immediate account for the fulfilment of my wish. The
next morning, therefore, I buttoned a whole ream of paper--of which
there was never a scarcity in our home--under my coat, and went to the
office. In order not to betray myself, I kept my armor with great
personal inconvenience upon my body until, toward noon, I knew from the
going and coming of my colleagues and from the sound of the munching
jaws that the cake-vender had arrived. I waited until I had reason to
believe that the rush of business was over, then I went out, pulled out
my paper, mustered up sufficient courage, and stepped up to the girl.
With her basket before her on the ground and her right foot resting on a
low stool, on which she usually sat, she stood there humming a soft
melody, beating time with her right foot. As I approached she measured
me from head to foot, which only added to my confusion. 'My dear young
woman,' I finally began, 'the other day you asked me for paper and I had
none that belonged to me. Now I have brought some from home, and'--with
that I held out the paper. 'I told you the other day,' she replied,
'that I have plenty of paper at home. However, I can make use of