Frenchwoman's cheeks. And when the price was at last named--a price
which made Virginia jubilant--there burst upon her outraged ears
something between a jeer and a howl of rage, the whole of it
terrifyingly done in the form of a groan; she looked at her
companion to see him holding up his hands and wobbling his head as
though it had been suddenly loosened from his spine, cast one look
at the Frenchwoman--then fled, followed by her groaning compatriot.

"I didn't mean you to act like _that_!" she stormed.

"Why, I did just what you told me to! Seemed to me I was following
directions to the letter. Don't think for a minute _I'm_ going
to bring discredit on the American nation! Not a bad scheme--taking
out my watch that way, was it?"

"Oh, beautiful _scheme_. I presume you notice, however, that we
have no lace."

They walked half a block in silence. "Now I'll take you to another
shop," she then volunteered, in a turning the other cheek fashion,
"and here please do nothing at all. Please just--sit."

"Sort of as if I was feeble-minded, eh?"

"Oh, don't _try_ to look feeble-minded," she begged, alarmed at
seeming to suggest any more parts; "just sit there--as if you were
thinking of something very far away."

"Say, Young Lady, look here; this is very nice, being put on to the
tricks of the trade, but the money end of it isn't cutting much ice,