His head was thrown back to speak to the driver through the roof.

In the instant of her glance Elfrida saw that he wore a bunch of violets in his button-hole, and that he was looking splendidly well.
Then, with a smile that recognized the dramatic value of his appearance at the moment, she lowered her umbrella and passed on, unseen.
Almost gaily she walked into a pawnbroker's shop, and obtained with perfect nonchalance five pounds upon her mother's watch.

She had no idea that she ought to dispute the dictum of the bald young man with the fishy eyes and the high collar.

It did not occur to her that she was paid too little.

What she realized was that she had wanted to pawn something all her life--it was a deliciously effective extremity.