Her bridesmaids have swooping hats with long, trailing ribbons, and their gowns have strips of thick trim on the sleeves and skirts.The man was African-American (later identified as Ben) - he pushed Barbara inside to protect her, locked the door, and assured her (with a tire-iron in his hand):"It""s all right.He""s he handsomest man in the Russian court, tall and formed like a Greek god, a model in fashion and deportment which all of us strive o follow." The uniformed doughboy is expectant ("that means she""s no mug") until Jean skips in - she is just a young, pretty, sweet, and naive high-school girl who glowingly admires him:Oh, Mr.