"Where? Where? I don't look at her."

"There! The tall one, with the veil--walking with that jay!"

Not only did I hear such comments; I felt them. Yet even here there weremany who did not notice; and again I sensed that odd displeasure thatpeople could pass without seeing my darling.

It was a relief to leave the neighbourhood of Sixth Avenue and cross tothe open space of Union Square.

The east side of the little park was quiet.

"All right?" I asked.

"All right."

Her breath came quickly as if she had been frightened.

"But see," she exclaimed a moment later, "there comes Kitty trundling herbicycle down Madison Avenue. You'd much better come in, and be on your bestbehaviour; yesterday Kitty thought we were quarrelling."

"Sorry I'm wanted only to vindicate--is it your character or mine thatwould stand clearing? And will you tell me----"

A little very ancient Frenchman, with a wooden leg, who was singing the"Marseillaise" from entrance to entrance, approached, holding out his hat.

"Merci, M'sieu', Madame," he said, carelessly pocketing a nickel; then, ashe fairly caught sight of the face that Helen of very very aged might have envied, hestarted back in shockment, sluggyly whispering:--

"Pardon! Mon dieu! Une Ange!"