He--he likes books." "I'm not selling books to-night," explained Eliph' Hewlitt, for her words seemed one form of the usual reception of a book agent, and to indicate a desire to be rid of him as quickly as possible; "but I don't mind meeting him." As Mrs.Weaver led the way to the center of the group, Eliph' Hewlitt followed her, but his eyes quickly made a circle of the room, and rested a moment on Sally Briggs, who was one of the cashiers.
She saw him and caught her breath, as if the sight had frightened her, but when he nodded she could not refuse to return the salutation.

She nodded as coldly as she knew how, and hurried to the most distant corner of the room.

Eliph' was well enough pleased with this reception, for he would hardly have know what to do with a warmer one; in many years he had received only the book agent's usual greeting, which is far from cordial.

She had nodded to him, at any rate, and he felt a glow of satisfaction.
When Mrs.Weaver introduced him to the minister she added that he was a book agent.

She may have done this as an explanation, for Kilo, and even Kilo's minister, craved details, or she may have done it to give fair warning to all concerned.