After a time, the buildings did nestle more closely together, and, somewhat comforted, she stopped a moment to rest. But she started suddenly to her feet as a light flashed upon her from an opposite window. People were really beginning to light their lamps, and the daylight was almost gone. Weariness was forgotten in the thought that night might fall before she could return, and she ran as fast as her light feet would carry her--so swiftly and so far that she had nearly passed a small store without seeing it. She checked her steps at this discovery, and entering, asked, breathlessly: "Oh,--please,--have you any ban-banners?" "What? any what?" demanded a severe-looking lady, coming forward and eying Nan suspiciously through her spectacles. "Bandaners,--handkerchiefs," explained Nannie, less confidently. "Bandanas? No; I don't keep them," responded the lady, very stiffly. "Should think she might have been more p'lite, if I didn't call it right," commented the young traveler as she hurried along the street once more. "Here's another." This time there was only a boy in attendance. He was head of the establishment when the proprietor went to supper, and he enjoyed his important position. "Do you keep ban-ban-banners?" asked Nannie, growing confused again. "Which? I hope you don't mean any disrespect to the flag of your country, ma'am?" "No sir; I mean handkerchiefs," said Nannie, innocently. "Ah! yes, I understand. I think we have the article in question." A number of the red and yellow silks were produced, and while the brown eyes scanned them in some perplexity, the mischievous young clerk surveyed the comical little figure before him, and gravely asked: "Is that quantity sufficient for the exercise of your predilections? or would you like an additional supply?" "I would like 'leven cents worth," stammered Nannie. "Eleven cents worth of silk handkerchiefs? That's a novelty now!" laughed the boy. "Why, you see that wouldn't be a seventh part of one of these bits of magnificence,--not a scrap large enough for a respectable doll. We really couldn't do it, ma'am. The owner of this establishment has a nonsensical way of always selling his handkerchiefs whole." [Illustration: "'SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS APIECE,' SAID THE OLD GENTLEMAN."] Then, at sight of the disappointed little face, his fun yielded to an impulse of kindness, and from a far-away corner he produced an old box with the dust of disuse lying thickly upon it. It contained some small cotton handkerchiefs, gayly printed, with border, pictures and verses, in bright colors. Nannie's eyes brightened. They were much prettier than the others, she thought, and they were only ten cents! She wavered uncertainly between a pink and a blue one, and finally appealed to the clerk for advice.