A high school student: "Can I get a copy of 'The Merchant of Venice,' the Rolfe edition?"
The very large woman: "Now, just you wait a minute, young feller! One at a time, here!"
Miss V. (at last making herself heard): "These books which you want to return should go over to that desk."
The very large woman: "What? Oh, Lord, I forgot! That's so, ain't it? Well, I'll take 'em over, but say, jus' let me leave my bundles here a minute—I'll be right back."
(She departs, leaving a package of macaroni, two dozen eggs, and a black string bag to help cover the already crowded desk.)
An old gentleman (holding a call-slip in both hands, and looking at Miss V. over his eye-glasses): "This says that President Lowell's book on the government of England is 'out.' Do you mean to say that you own only one copy of such an important work?"
Edgar: "No, sir, we got two, but they're all out."
The old gentleman: "Well, two, then! Why, I daresay you have half a dozen of some trashy novel or other. Why, do you know that the author is President of Harvard University?"
Edgar (quite cheerfully): "No, sir."