At last he bethought him of a small bunch of charms
that he had got somewhere, and hung to his watch-chain, and
with which he had often enticed and won the hearts of
children.
"Would you like to come and look at these?" he said, holding
them up.
"No," she replied, ungraciously, and retreating a step
backwards.
"Not at this?" he said. "Here is a little steam engine that
runs on wheels; and, see, here is a fan that will open and
shut."
"No," she said again, with a determined little shake of her
head, and still retreating.
"But only look at this," he said, selecting a little flexible
enamel fish, and trying to lure back this small wild bird.
"See this little gold and green fish, it moves its head and
tail."
"No," she said once more, but the fish was evidently a
temptation, and she paused irresolute for a moment; but Graham
made a step forward, and this decided her.
"I don't care for _breloques_," she said, with disdain, "and I
don't want to see them, I tell you." And then, turning round,
she marched straight out of the room.
At that moment the music stopped, the waltzing ceased, an a
line of retreat was left open for Graham.
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