The greeting drove all courage from her at once.
"Do you need any help ?" she stammered.
"No," he replied abruptly, and turned upon his heel.
She went foolishly out, the office boy deferentially swinging the door for her, and gladly sank into the obscuring crowd.

It was a severe setback to her recently pleased mental state.
Now she walked quite aimlessly for a time, turning here and there, seeing one great company after another, but finding no courage to prosecute her single inquiry.

High noon came, and with it hunger.

She hunted out an unassuming restaurant and entered, but was disturbed to find that the prices were exorbitant for the size of her purse.

A bowl of soup was all that she could afford, and, with this quickly eaten, she went out again.