She had dined downtown, and on the way home the shadow had stalked beside her.Loneliness.Never before had these rooms seemed so empty, empty.

If God had only given her a brother and he had marched in that glorious parade, what fun they two would be having at this moment! Empty rooms; not even a pet.
Loneliness.

She had been a silly little fool to stand so aloof, just because she was poor and lived in a faded locality.

She mocked herself.
Poor but proud, like the shopgirl in the movies.

Denied herself companionship because she was ashamed of her genteel poverty.