Mahin took his coat, and they left the house.

III

THE two boys, having rung the door-bell, entered the empty shop,
which had shelves along the walls and photographic appliances on them,
together with show-cases on the counters. A plain woman, with a kind
face, came through the inner door and asked from behind the counter what
they required.

"A nice frame, if you please, madam."

"At what price?" asked the woman; she wore mittens on her swollen
fingers with which she rapidly handled picture-frames of different
shapes.

"These are fifty kopeks each; and these are a little more expensive.
There is rather a pretty one, of quite a new style; one rouble and
twenty kopeks."

"All right, I will have this. But could not you make it cheaper? Let us
say one rouble."

"We don't bargain in our shop," said the shopkeeper with a dignified
air.

"Well, I will take it," said Mahin, and put the coupon on the counter.
"Wrap up the frame and give me change. But please be quick. We must be
off to the theatre, and it is getting late."