The ivy spray was still twisted about the handle; this one sacrifice, she thought, she might make to sentimentality and personality, and she picked two leaves from the ivy and put them in her pocket before she disencumbered her stick of the rest of it.

She grasped the stick in the middle, and settled her fur cap closely upon her head, as if she must be in trim for a long and stormy walk.

Next, standing in the middle of the road, she took a slip of paper from her purse, and read out loud a list of commissions entrusted to her--fruit, butter, string, and so on; and all the time she never spoke directly to Ralph or looked at him.
Ralph heard her giving orders to attentive, rosy-checked men in white aprons, and in spite of his own preoccupation, he commented upon the determination with which she made her wishes known.

Once more he began, automatically, to take stock of her characteristics.

Standing thus, superficially observant and stirring the sawdust on the floor meditatively with the toe of his boot, he was roused by a musical and familiar voice behind him, accompanied by a light touch upon his shoulder.
"I'm not mistaken?
Surely Mr.Denham?
I caught a glimpse of your coat through the window, and I felt sure that I knew your coat.