Mrs. Van Cassalear dropped her husband's arm and the white draperies fell unheeded to the pavement. She almost snatched the lilies from the boy's hands, and bowed her face over them.
The city sights and sounds faded away. Before her spread a deep, dark lake, its surface flecked with lilies. Tall pines bent over it, and in their shadow drifted a boat, and an impassioned, boyish face looked at her from the boat's prow....
"Six for five cents, lady, please!"
"Do you want the things, Helen?" said Van Cassalear, the least trace of impatience in his voice. "If you do, let me pay the boy and we'll go on. People are staring."
The lady raised her eyes and drew a deep breath.
"No," she said, "I will not have them."
She returned the lilies, with a piece of money, to the astonished boy, gathered her drapery again into her hand, and swept on.