The man's words made Mable beam as if he was praising her, and not a rock she had found on the street.  She hugged it close to her chest and did a little twirl.

"It is very ex - excellent, isn't it!  I shall name it Bertha, and she will keep all my shells company on my desk!"  Bertha would fit in perfect among the rest of her collection.  How wonderful, how wonderful!

"My name is Mable, sir, and this is Bertha!  What might your name be, kind sir?  Bertha is very fond of you, you have been very nice to the both of us!"