When she tossed away the carnations she likewise tossed away her thoughts of that young man.

She had been like a boy who sees upon the street, some distance before him, a bit of something round and glittering, a possible dime.

He hopes it is a dime, and, until he comes near enough to make sure, he plays that it is a dime.

In his mind he has an adventure with it: he buys something delightful.

If he picks it up, discovering only some tin-foil which has happened upon a round shape, he feels a sinking.