"What is all this commotion about?" asked one man as he approached. Then as he noted the mutang he stopped respectfully. The old woman had now paused in her running, and had turned toward Helen. "What were the words? Say them again."
Helen repeated them.
"Why are you running after me in this way? Why do you offer me yen?" she now asked angrily.
Helen told her as simply and as plainly as she could.
At this the old woman's eyes blazed more than ever. But she seemed to take a second thought, and asked cautiously, "How many yen?"
"Two," replied Helen, closely watching her face.
The old woman shook her head vigorously, then began to stamp. "Too little! too little!" she said. "Your head is under your arm to think I'd be such an idiot!"
Then she set off again.
"Three!" called Helen desperately, for she knew this was the limit of her resources so far as yen were concerned.
"No! no!" shouted the old woman. "Too little! too little! Five or none."