and before the window, the cock stands solitarily on one leg, and looks
upon his harem with the countenance of a sleepy sultan. Bear sits in his
room writing letters. I hear him yawn; that infects me. Oh! oh! I must
go and have a little quarrel with him on purpose to awaken us both.

"I want at this moment a quire of writing-paper on which to drop
sugar-cakes. He is terribly miserly of his writing-paper, and on that
very account I must have some now.

"_Later._--All is done! A complete quarrel, and how completely lively we
are after it! You, Maria, must hear all, that you may thus see how it
goes on among married people.

"I went to my husband and said quite meekly, 'My Angel Bear, you must be
so very good as to give me a quire of your writing-paper to drop
sugar-cakes upon.'

"_He_ (_in consternation_). 'A quire of writing-paper?'

"_She._ 'Yes, my dear friend, of your very best writing-paper.'

"_He._ 'Finest writing-paper? Are you mad?'

"_She._ 'Certainly not; but I believe you are a little out of your
senses.'

"_He._ 'You covetous sea-cat, leave off raging among my papers! You
shall not have my paper!'

"_She._ 'Miserly beast! I shall and will have the paper.'

"_He._ '"I shall"! Listen a moment. Let's see, now, how you will
accomplish your will.' And the rough Bear held both my small hands fast
in his great paws.

"_She._ 'You ugly Bear! You are worse than any of those that walk on
four legs. Let me loose! Let me loose, else I shall bite you!' And as he
would not let me loose I bit him. Yes, Maria, I bit him really on the
hand, at which he only laughed scornfully and said: 'Yes, yes, my little
wife, that is always the way of those who are forward without the power
to do. Take the paper. Now, take it!'

"_She._ 'Ah! Let me loose! let me loose!'

"_He._ 'Ask me prettily.'

"_She._ 'Dear Bear!'

"_He._ 'Acknowledge your fault.'

"_She._ 'I do.'

"_He._ 'Pray for forgiveness.'

"_She._ 'Ah, forgiveness!'

"_He._ 'Promise amendment.'

"_She._ 'Oh, yes, amendment!'

"_He._ 'Nay, I'll pardon you. But now, no sour faces, dear wife, but
throw your arms round my neck and kiss me.'

"I gave him a little box on the ear, stole a quire of paper, and ran off
with loud exultation. Bear followed into the kitchen growling horribly;
but then I turned upon him armed with two delicious little patties,
which I aimed at his mouth, and there they vanished. Bear, all at once,
was quite still, the paper was f