[ { "chunk": 620, "story": 46, "summary": "The boss's son, too busy to follow up a dinner-party promise, sends Torchy to help promote and sell the work of a penniless young Belgian sculptor, a cause taken up by the sweetheart's aunt.", "predicament": "A busy boss hands his right hand a social favour he rashly promised, which turns out to involve the sweetheart's guardian." }, { "chunk": 621, "story": 46, "summary": "At the shabby studio the aunt scorns Torchy as a substitute while his sweetheart defends him; the frail sculptor, decorating on a ladder, grows dizzy.", "predicament": "Someone sent in the boss's place is scorned by a haughty guardian, while his sweetheart speaks up for his new standing." }, { "chunk": 622, "story": 46, "summary": "Torchy catches the fainting sculptor, then spends an hour doing all the decorating, turning the bare loft into a showy studio with the aunt's borrowed finery.", "predicament": "Someone sent as a stand-in catches a collapsing helper and ends up doing all the heavy work himself." }, { "chunk": 623, "story": 46, "summary": "Torchy tells the aunt to make the show invitation-only, mark prices up and give the margin to Belgian relief for publicity, and woo the reporters at home; she swallows her disdain and adopts the plan.", "predicament": "Someone the guardian scorns gives her shrewd, worldly advice that she swallows her pride to adopt as her own." }, { "chunk": 624, "story": 46, "summary": "He offers to draw up a list of wealthy guests; she adds a rich but socially unacceptable merchant, then makes clear Torchy himself is not welcome at the event.", "predicament": "A guardian gladly uses her ward's suitor's skills, then tells him he is too humble to attend the occasion himself." }, { "chunk": 625, "story": 46, "summary": "The aunt says she merely recognises existing social distinctions; she insists on coming along to buy the tea things, and Torchy leads them to one of the merchant's cheap chain groceries.", "predicament": "A snobbish guardian defends her class barriers, then insists on chaperoning her ward and suitor on a humble errand." }, { "chunk": 626, "story": 46, "summary": "A stout, expert clerk serves them; the aunt recognises him as a poor boy from her childhood town who used to ask her to skate, and recalls something odd about his family.", "predicament": "A snobbish woman recognises the humble shop assistant serving her as a poor boy who once admired her." }, { "chunk": 627, "story": 46, "summary": "She patronises him about his lowly job and large family and offers her niece's cast-off clothes, while he answers meekly.", "predicament": "A snob condescends to a childhood admirer she thinks has come down in life, offering him cast-offs and advice." }, { "chunk": 628, "story": 46, "summary": "A chauffeur arrives with telegrams for him, and he admits the limousine and the store are his; he is the very merchant she wanted to reach.", "predicament": "A snob who has just patronised a humble man learns he is far richer and more powerful than she is." }, { "chunk": 629, "story": 46, "summary": "He explains he owns nearly a hundred stores and was filling in for a sick manager; he takes Torchy for her son, and she asks whether he means to retire from such petty work.", "predicament": "A humiliated snob tries to regain the upper hand by suggesting the rich man's trade is beneath him." }, { "chunk": 630, "story": 46, "summary": "He says his business, with thousands of employees, feeds poor people honestly at a small profit and is neither petty nor sordid, and he will not retire.", "predicament": "A self-made man calmly defends the humble trade he rose through, and says he takes real pride in it." }, { "chunk": 631, "story": 46, "summary": "He drives them back in his car, views the sculptures, declines to attend as being from the wrong end of town, orders four bronzes and leaves a large cheque.", "predicament": "A rich man snubbed for his origins declines the grand occasion but quietly gives the struggling cause more than anyone." }, { "chunk": 632, "story": 46, "summary": "The mellowed aunt tells Torchy to come to the tea after all, in his best coat, and he reports to the boss's son that he and the aunt make a great team.", "predicament": "A guardian softened by a chastening encounter unexpectedly invites her ward's suitor to the occasion she barred him from." } ]