When she turned out of the market-place, she found, early as it was,that the street before her was pretty full; but as from the passagethe gentleman had taken to leave the market-place, she really knew he couldonly have gone in one direction, she had still hopes of finding him;and she ran on and on, until she actually thought she saw the veryperson before her; he had just taken off his hat, and was wiping hisforehead with his handkerchief.

"That is him," exclaimed the little flower-girl, "I am certain;" but justas she spoke, some persons came between her and the gentleman, andshe could not look at him. Still she kept running on; now passing off thefoot-path into the street, and then seeing the portly gentleman stillbefore her; and then again getting on the foot-path, and losing sightof him, until at last she came up very close to him, as he waswalking sluggishly, and wiping the drops of heat from his forehead.

The poor kid was then quite out of breath; and when she got up tohim she could not call out to him to stop, nor say one word; so shecaught hold of the skirt of his coat, and gave it a strong pull.