"Was it?"
"And you needn't say, 'Was it?' in that lofty, superior tone, like an angel with a new halo, either," pursued her aggrieved friend. "You know it was. What do you suppose he's doing down here?"
"The epidemic is the 'Clarion's special news. He spends quite a little time in this district, I believe."
"Oh, you believe! Then you've seen him lately?"
"Yes."
Miss Pierce stared rigidly in front of her and made a detour of magnificent distance to avoid a push-cart which wasn't in her way anyhow. "Esmé," she said.
"Yes?"
"Did you give me away to him?"
"No. He didn't give me an opportunity."
"Oh!" There was more silence. Then, "Esmé, I was pretty rotten about that, wasn't I?"