This was practical joking, for a certainty, and Gray told himself that he abhorred practical jokes.

It was a jolt to his pride to have his attentions thus ignored, but what irked him most was the fact that he was stopped, by reason of his deceit, from making any direct inquiries that might lead to a further acquaintance with the girl.
Mrs.Briskow, however, was in no condition either to note his dismay or to volunteer information upon any except one subject; to wit, corns.
Human hearts were of less concern to her, for the time being, than human feet, and hers were killing her.

She began a recital of her sufferings, as intimate, as agonizing, and as confidential as if Gray were a practicing chiropodist.

What she had to say about tight shoes was bitter in the extreme; she voiced a gloomy conviction that the alarming increase in suicides was due to bunions.

The good woman confessed that she dearly loved finery and had bought right and left with reckless extravagance, but all the merchandise in this department store was not worth the anguish she had endured this day.