The old gentleman: "Well, he is! Your librarian ought to be told of this. Where is he? I shall enter a complaint."
A woman with poppies on her hat: "How do you do, Miss Vanderpyl? You're looking so well! You've quite recovered from that dreadful illness you had last fall? I'm so glad! Now, I've brought you something."
(She extends an envelope, which Miss V., who has a book in one hand, and a combination pencil and dating-stamp in the other, takes between the last two fingers of her right hand.)
The woman with poppies: "Those are two tickets for the reception that is going to be given this evening by the Grand Dames of the Pequot War. It's very exclusive, and the tickets are awfully hard to get. I felt sure you'd like to go and take a friend. They are not giving the tickets away to everyone, I can assure you. Oh, isn't that 'The Long Roll' over there on that desk? I do so want to read that, and they say there isn't a single copy in, except that one. You'll just let me take it, won't you?"
Miss V.: "Why, I'm awfully sorry! That copy is reserved for someone,—she paid for the post-card notice, you know, and we've written her that the book is here. I'm very sorry!"
The woman with poppies: "Oh, is that so?"
(She reaches over, and deftly withdraws the envelope from Miss V.'s fingers, and replaces it in her card-case. Then she speaks again:)
"I am so sorry. Perhaps you won't be able to go to the reception this evening, anyhow. Good afternoon, Miss Vanderpyl, good afternoon."
(And she goes out, smiling sweetly.)