Lena stood there, and never made any answer and never tried to please her aunt, or to do anything that her aunt wanted.  “No, it ain’t no use your standin’ there and cryin’, now, Lena.  Its too late now to care about that Herman.  You should have cared some before, and then you wouldn’t have to stand and cry now, and be a disappointment to me, and then I get scolded by my husband for taking care of everybody, and nobody ever thankful.  I am glad you got the sense to feel sorry now, Lena, anyway, and I try to do what I can to help you out in your trouble, only you don’t deserve to have anybody take any trouble for you.  But perhaps you know better next time.  You go home now and take care you don’t spoil your clothes and that new hat, you had no business to be wearin’ that this morning, but you ain’t got no sense at all, Lena.  I never in my life see anybody be so stupid.”

Mrs. Haydon stopped and poor Lena stood there in her hat, all trimmed with pretty flowers, and the tears coming out of her eyes, and Lena did not know what it was that she had done, only she was not going to be married and it was a disgrace for a girl to be left by a man on the very day she was to be married.

Lena went home all alone, and cried in the street car.

Poor Lena cried very hard all alone in the street car.  She almost spoiled her new hat with her hitting it against the window in her crying.  Then she remembered that she must not do so.

The conductor was a kind man and he was very sorry when he saw her crying.  “Don’t feel so bad, you get another feller, you are such a nice girl,” he said to make her cheerful.  “But Aunt Mathilda said now, I never get married,” poor Lena sobbed out for her answer.  “Why you really got trouble like that,” said the conductor, “I just said that now to josh you.  I didn’t ever think you really was left by a feller.  He must be a stupid feller.  But don’t you worry, he wasn’t much good if he could go away and leave you, lookin’ to be such a nice girl.  You just tell all your trouble to me, and I help you.”  The car was empty and the conductor sat down beside her to put his arm around her, and to be a comfort to her.  Lena suddenly remembered where she was, and if she did things like that her aunt would scold her.  She moved away from the man into the corner.  He laughed, “Don’t be scared,” he said, “I wasn’t going to hurt you.  But you just keep up your spirit.  You are a real nice girl, and you’ll be sure to get a real good husband.  Don’t you let nobody fool you.  You’re all right and I don’t want to scare you.”

The conductor went back to his platform to help a passenger get on the car.  All the time Lena stayed in the street car, he would come in every little while and reassure her, about her not to feel so bad about a man who hadn’t no more sense than to go away and leave her.  She’d be sure yet to get a good man, she needn’t be so worried, he frequently assured her.