"I shouldn't mind taking them if they were as nice as yours. How long have you lived there?"
"We only moved on the first day of May."
"How much do you charge for your neckties, boy?" asked a female voice.
Looking up, Paul beheld a tall, hard-visaged female, who had stopped in front of his stand.
"Twenty-five cents," answered Paul.
"Seems to me they're rather high," returned the would-be customer. "Can't you sell me one for twenty cents?"
"I never take less than twenty-five, madam."
"I am looking for a nice birthday present for my nephew," said the hard-visaged lady, "but I don't want to spend too much. If you'll say twenty cents, I'll take two."
"I'm sorry, but I have only one price," said the young merchant.
"I'll give you twenty-two cents."