She had been accustomed to shopping in London and New York, and she grumbled at everything the man showed her.

It was not that she was really dissatisfied; this was her method.

She explained that she could get most things cheaper and better elsewhere; not that she really thought she could, merely she held it good for the shopkeeper to say this.

She told him that his stock lacked taste--she did not mean to be offensive; as I have explained, it was her method;--that there was no variety about it; that it was not up to date; that it was commonplace; that it looked as if it would not wear.

He did not argue with her; he did not contradict her.