held not only Garth, but also his coat and her own. Peanut shells littered the floor of the car beneath her feet, and the girl next her chewed gum energetically. Joan fixed her eyes resolutely on the cool curve of Garth’s cheek and tried to fancy that the roar of the car, as it pounded along, was the sound of surf on the Reef.
When they left the trolley-car the travelers found that they had time to walk down the street for a little while before their appointment. It was very crowded and dusty and exceedingly hot. The sun blazed down mercilessly, and the sidewalks sent back waves of heat. Men sprawled on the park-benches opposite, with handkerchiefs tucked into their collars, and ragged children splashed under the streams of a fountain, with a rapturous disregard for such clothes as they had on. Two hand-organs were vying with each other as to which could play "La Marseillaise" the louder, and as they played in quite different keys, the effect was depressing.
Garth looked in at the shop-windows and asked Joan a great many questions. He beamed affably at the sailors who passed them occasionally, and one young naval officer was so
