"Such a waste of money!" George muttered as she picked up the half-empty container.
"What a shame!" Nancy exclaimed. "It's your perfume, Bess, and now I have a lot of it on me."
Bess groaned. "I should've waited till I was home to open the bottle. I'm lucky there's some left!" Carefully she placed the small vial in her handbag.
By now the concentrated odor of Blue Jade had permeated the car, and passengers in nearby seats flung open the windows.
"I'm glad we're getting off at the next stop." Nancy giggled. "Everyone is laughing at us."
Nancy had become so engrossed with the spilled perfume that she had forgotten about the pale young woman who occupied the opposite seat. Now, as Nancy turned her head, she was startled to see that the girl had slumped down in a dejected heap.
"She's fainted!" Nancy exclaimed, moving quickly across the aisle. She shook the girl gently, but there was no response from the frail figure.
"Bess! Ask if there is a doctor in the car!" Nancy cried urgently.
By this time other passengers in the car were aware that something had happened, and were crowding about, asking unnecessary questions and getting in the way. Nancy politely asked them to move back.
There did not appear to be a doctor in the coach, but as Nancy rubbed the girl's wrists, she was relieved to see that she was showing signs of recovering consciousness.
George quickly raised the window so that the fresh air fanned the girl's face. Leaning against the seat, she looked deathly pale.
"What can I do?" George asked.
"Stay here while I get some water," Nancy answered. "She's coming around now. I think she'll be all right in a few minutes."
Nancy hurried to the water cooler at the far end of the car. As she was trying to fill the paper cup, a man who had been standing near the doorway came toward her. He made a pretense of waiting his turn to get a drink, yet she realized by the intent look on his face that something had startled him. He was deliberately studying her! Was it because of the perfume? She fairly reeked with it!