"Just as you please." She turned from him, apparently offended by his tone, slightly nodded and walked slowly away. She was of medium height, no more than that, and slender. A brute of a man bumped her with his shoulder as he passed her.
Stevens waited for the brute of a man, dug his elbow into his ribs and overtook her at the Madison Street corner.
"Miss—Mrs. Connor, I didn't mean to be rude."
"You were a little, you know."
"Will you excuse me?"
"Why, of course."
He didn't quite know what to do next, so he awkwardly extended his hand. She took it with a man-to-man shake of wiping out the score, which completely demolished his cynical attitude in reference to platonic friendship.
"Where were you bound for?" he asked.
"Nowhere, just strolling. Over to the lake front for a breath of air."
"May I walk along?"