Teddy’s face fell, then he put on an expression of ridiculous dignity, puffed out his chest and said, “Well, I guess I’m just as much as some other people I know.”
The salesman only laughed the louder. Looking deeply injured, Teddy marched off down a narrow aisle, between high-stacked rows of granite ware, to a section reserved entirely for mops, brooms, long-handled brushes and other paraphernalia for cleaning.
“I guess if the buyer saw me once, he’d remember my hair, anyhow,” Teddy muttered. At that moment his eyes were attracted to a curious, many-colored figure poking disconsolately along toward him. “She’s an Eyetalion,” decided Ted. “I guess she’s just got here to America.” The woman wore a red skirt and a bright blue waist; a wide red and yellow kerchief was folded about her shoulders. On her head she wore a red silk handkerchief with a ringed red and white border, the ends of which were tied under her chin. In her ears hung long hoops of gold that swung and shook as she walked. She was looking eagerly from side to side as though in search of something.
While Teddy was still several yards from her, a saleswoman approached and addressed the woman.
“What can I show you, madam?” The saleswoman smiled ingratiatingly.
Whether the stranger understood the other woman’s words or not, she at least seemed to comprehend the offer of services. With a smile more than equal to the one bestowed upon her, she gestured with both hands as though pushing something ahead of her. “Aht, aht!” she exclaimed, with another vigorous shoving forward of both hands.
“Oh, yes, I see.” The saleswoman stepped to a stack of long-handled floor brushes, and selecting one demonstrated its good qualities for the customer’s benefit.
The Italian woman smiled broadly, but shook her head. “Aht, aht,” she repeated plaintively.
By this time two other saleswomen, attracted by the unusual spectacle the woman presented, joined the first.