I know any number of rich women who don't think anything of paying a thousand dollars for a dress--" Her insolence was so evidently the result of anger that Gabriella, without interrupting the flow, waited courteously until she paused.
"No, you cannot do anything for me, Florrie." Though Gabriella's voice was crisp and firm, her face looked suddenly older, and little lines, stamped by weariness and regret, appeared at the corners of her still brilliant eyes.

"I don't wish you any harm," she went on more softly.
"If you were in trouble I'd do what I could for you, but somehow I don't seem able to forgive you for being what you are.

Would you like to look at anything else ?" she inquired in her professional tone.

"Miss Murphy is waiting to show you some hats." Her cheeks were burning when she passed out of the ivory and gold door, saluted deferentially by the attendant in livery.

"The effrontery!" she thought, "the barefaced effrontery!" and then, as her eyes fell on Florrie's trim little electric coup beside the curb, she exclaimed mentally, recalling George's animated perplexity about the pearl necklace, "I wonder how in the world she does it ?" The meeting with Florrie appeared to her, as she walked home that afternoon, to be the last touch needed to push her into a state of utter despondency.