"He hates children--they excite him."

The woman with the child turned to a companion, exclaiming
audibly: "Those are the King's rubies--see! Ain't they nice and
white?"

A fat matron beside Lorelei elbowed her way forward; in one hand
she carried a pair of embroidered silk stockings, with the other
she raised a lorgnette. After a measured scrutiny her lips
tightened, her nose lifted, she blew loudly like a porpoise, and,
gathering her skirts closely, waddled away, as if fleeing from
contagion. She continued to clutch the hosiery until a floor-
walker, in answer to the clerk's frantic signal, intercepted her.
Another crowd promptly gathered to listen to her indignant denial
of guilt.

"Have you finished your shopping?" Adoree inquired. "Then do come
and help me match some rose du Barry. I've no more eye for color
than Francois. Pink is just another shade of blue to me."

"Gee! He's alive, all right," piped the small boy, whose eyes were
glued upon the poodle. "Ma, what does a live dog cost?"

Lorelei felt herself flushing uncomfortably under the stares of
the onlookers, and, glad to escape, she moved away beside the
undisturbed cause of all the furore.

Miss Demorest seemed genuinely delighted at this encounter. She
clung to her companion, chattering vivaciously; then, when the