“Letmecarryyourflowers，“saidBoyle。Hehadnoticedthatshewasfindingsomedifficultyinholdingupherskirtandthenosegayatthesametime。
“No！No！“shesaidinhurriedhorroratthisnewsuggestionoftheircompanionship。“Thankyouverymuch——butthey’rereallynotworthkeeping——Iamgoingtothrowthemaway。There！“sheadded，tossingthemimpatientlyinthedust。
ButshehadnotreckonedonBoyle’sperfectgood-humor。Thatgentleidiotstoopeddown，actuallygatheredthemupagain，andwasfollowing！Shehurriedon；ifshecouldonlygettothecoachfirst，ignoringhim！Butavulgarmanlikethatwouldbesuretohandthemtoherwithsomejoke！Thenshelaggedagain——shewasgettingtired，andshecouldseenosignofthecoach。Thedrummer，too，wasalsolaggingbehind——atarespectfuldistance，likeagroomoroneofherfather’stroopers。Neverthelessthisdidnotputherinamuchbetterhumor，andhaltinguntilhecameabreastofher，shesaidimpatiently:“Idon’tseewhyMr。Fostershouldthinkitnecessarytosendanyonetolookafterme。“
“Hedidn’t，“returnedBoylesimply。“Igotdowntopickupsomething。“
“Topickupsomething？“shereturnedincredulously。