“Maybe they’re all taken,” suggested the gentle Olive, but Miss Torrance would have none of that.
She, too, still had in her mind the images of tropical islands and coral reefs and high adventures, and somehow it hurt and angered her, and the taxis that would not stop were like the stream of life itself that hurried past and left her behind.[Pg 183]
“I’ll make one stop!” she declared grimly. “Here!” Taking off her brave new hat, she thrust it into Olive’s hands. “I’ll stop one if I have to stand in the middle of the street!”
“Oh, don’t!” cried Olive. “Wait just a minute!”
“Let me get you one,” said a cheerful voice.
Turning, they both looked into the face of an unknown young man. It was by no means a face to inspire alarm, nor was his manner at all sinister. He was a sturdy, square-shouldered young chap, with a sunburned face, in which his eyes looked amazingly blue. As he stood there, hat in hand, he looked altogether so good-humored and friendly and honest that Miss Torrance’s glare softened.
“Well—” said she.
He needed no more than that grudging consent.
“Half a minute!” he cried, and off he darted into the rain.
“Oh!” cried Olive. “Oh, Miss Torrance! Oh, we forgot! We can’t pay for it! We have only fifteen cents!”