“As a matter of fact, I was already turning other prospects over in my mind.  In the chancery, where I had been tolerated only on account of my father, my place had already been filled by another, which troubled me little, since no salary was attached to the position.  But my father’s secretary, whom recent events had deprived of his livelihood, informed me of a plan for the establishment of a bureau of information, copying, and translation.  For this undertaking I was to advance the initial cost of equipment, he being prepared to undertake the management.  At my request the field of copying was extended so as to include music, and now I was perfectly happy.  I advanced the necessary sum, but, having grown cautious, demanded a written receipt.  The rather large bond for the establishment, which I likewise furnished, caused me no worry, since it had to be deposited with the court, where it was as safe as though it were locked up in my strong-box.

“The affair was settled, and I felt relieved, exalted; for the first time in my life I was independent—­I was a man at last.  I scarcely gave my father another thought.  I moved into a better apartment, procured better clothes, and when it had become dark, I went through familiar streets to the grocery store, with a swinging step and humming my song, although not quite correctly.  I never have been able to strike the B flat in the second half.  I arrived in the best of spirits, but an icy look from Barbara immediately threw me back into my former state of timidity.  Her father received me most cordially; but she acted as if no one were present, continued making paper bags, and took no part whatever in our conversation.  Only when we touched upon the subject of my inheritance, she rose in her seat and exclaimed in an almost threatening tone, ‘Father!’ Thereupon the old man immediately changed the subject.  Aside from that, she said nothing during the whole evening, didn’t give me a second look, and, when I finally took my leave, her ‘good-night’ sounded almost like a ‘thank heaven.’

“But I came again and again, and gradually she yielded—­not that I ever did anything that pleased her.  She scolded me and found fault with me incessantly.  Everything I did she considered clumsy; God had given me two left hands; my coat fitted so badly, it made me look like a scarecrow; my walk was a cross between that of a duck and cock.  What she disliked especially was my politeness toward the customers.  As I had nothing to do until the opening of the copying bureau, where I should have direct dealings with the public, I considered it a good preliminary training to take an active part in the retail business of the grocery store.  This often kept me there half the day.  I weighed spices, counted out nuts and prunes for the children, and acted as cashier.  In this latter capacity I was frequently guilty of errors, in which event Barbara would interfere by forcibly taking away whatever money I had in my hand,