Marlene had followed Jason in, and grinned at the tall man in the ballet clothes with a wink.
Then, she saw the scene with the little girl, and her face fell with dismay.
"Oh my, I am sorry!" she exclaimed. "I didn't mean to -- if that dog were mine, you could keep it. Him. Her. Don't know which that is, they are two girls and a boy. But I've got to deliver him -- her -- to a lady who is really looking forwards to them and who will love them a lot."
She'd been speaking to Nia, and was genuinely sorry she had to take the dog away.