The floor manager looked doubtfully from the Topham sisters to the saleswoman. He realized that it would be a serious error to accuse well-to-do customers falsely, and for that reason he was inclined to give the Topham girls the benefit of the doubt. He stooped over and examined the fragments of the bowl.
“Someone must pay for the damage,” he said severely. “This is an expensive imported bowl.”
“Then let your clerk pay for it out of her salary,” Ada retorted. “If she hadn’t been so stupid she wouldn’t have broken the vase!”
The saleswoman was too bewildered to take her own part and Nancy saw that the floor manager was in a dilemma. As she sensed that he was about to exonerate Ada from all blame, she stepped forward.
“You must be mistaken, Miss Topham,” she said quietly. “I am certain the saleswoman did not break the bowl, for I saw the accident myself.”
“What business have you to interfere?” Ada demanded harshly, wheeling upon Nancy.
“Perhaps it isn’t my business, but I can’t permit you to accuse this girl of something she didn’t do.”
“You saw the accident, Miss?” the floor manager questioned.
“Yes. As Miss Topham walked by the counter, her sleeve caught on the vase.”
“It isn’t true,” Ada snapped. “But I’m tired of this silly argument. How much do you want for your vase?”
The floor manager studied a price list.
“Fifty dollars.”