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material all the way through； and in the best manna。 Just look at that
shoe； ladies； ex…amine it； sha'n't cost you a cent； and I'll pay for youa
lost time myself； if any complaint is made。〃 He began to toss pairs of
the shoes into the crowd of girls； who caught them from each other before
they fell； with hysterical laughter； and ran away with them in…doors to
try them on。 〃This is a shoe that I'm intaducin'；〃 the shoeman went on；
〃and every pair is warrantedwarranted numba two； don't make any otha
size； because we want to cata to a strictly numba two custom。 If any
lady doos feel 'em a little mite too snug； I'm sorry for her； but I can't
do anything to help her in this shoe。〃
〃Too snug ！〃 came a gay voice from in…doors。 〃Why my foot feels
puffectly lost in this one。〃
〃All right；〃 the shoeman shouted back。 〃Call it a numba one shoe and
then see if you can't find that lost foot in it； some'eres。 Or try a
little flour； and see if it won't feel more at home。 I've hea'd of a
shoe that give that sensation of looseness by not goin' on at all。〃
The girls exulted joyfully together at the defeat of their companion；
but the shoeman kept a grave face； while he searched out other sorts of
shoes and slippers； and offered them； or responded to some definite
demand with something as near like as he could hope to make serve。
The tumult of talk and laughter grew till the chef put his head out of
the kitchen door； and then came sauntering across the grass to the helps'
piazza。 At the same time the clerk suffered himself to be lured from his
post by the excitement。 He came and stood beside the chef； who listened
to the shoeman's flow of banter with a longing to take his chances with
him。
〃That's a nice hawss；〃 he said。 〃What'll you take for him？〃
〃Why； hello！〃 said the shoeman； with an eye that dwelt upon the chef's
official white cap and apron； 〃You talk English； don't you？ Fust off； I
didn't know but it was one of them foreign dukes come ova he'a to marry
some oua poor millionai'es daughtas。〃 The girls cried out for joy； and
the chef bore their mirth stoically； but not without a personal relish of
the shoeman's up…and…comingness。 〃Want a hawss？〃 asked the shoeman with
an air of business。 〃What'll you give？〃
〃I'll give you thutty…seven dollas and a half；〃 said the chef。
〃Sorry I can't take it。 That hawss is sellin' at present for just one
hundred and fifty dollas。〃
〃Well；〃 said the chef； 〃I'll raise you a dolla and a quahta。 Say thutty…
eight and seventy…five。〃
〃W…ell now； you're gittin' up among the figgas where you're liable to own
a hawss。 You just keep right on a raisin' me； while I sell these ladies
some shoes； and maybe you'll hit it yit； 'fo'e night。〃
The girls were trying on shoes on every side now； and they had dispensed
with the formality of going in…doors for the purpose。 More than one put
out her foot to the clerk for his opinion of the fit； and the shoeman was
mingling with the crowd； testing with his hand； advising from his
professional knowledge； suggesting； urging； and in some cases artfully
agreeing with the reluctance shown。
〃This man；〃 said the chef； indicating Fane； 〃says you can tell moa lies
to the square inch than any man out o' Boston。〃
〃Doos he？〃 asked the shoeman； turning with a pair of high…heeled bronze
slippers in his hand from the wagon。 〃Well； now； if I stood as nea' to
him as you do； I believe I sh'd hit him。〃
〃Why； man； I can't dispute him！〃 said the chef； and as if he had now at
last scored a point； he threw back his head and laughed。 When he brought
down his head again； it was to perceive the approach of Clementina。
〃Hello；〃 he said for her to hear； 〃he'e comes the Boss。 Well； I guess I
must be goin'；〃 he added； in mock anxiety。 〃I'm a goin'； Boss； I'm a
goin'。〃
Clementina ignored him。 〃Mr。 Atwell wants to see you a moment； Mr。
Fane；〃 she said to the clerk。
〃All right； Miss Claxon；〃 Fane answered； with the sorrowful respect which
he always showed Clementina； now； 〃I'll be right there。〃 But he waited a
moment； either in expression of his personal independence； or from
curiosity to know what the shoeman was going to say of the bronze
slippers。
Clementina felt the fascination； too； she thought the slippers were
beautiful； and her foot thrilled with a mysterious prescience of its
fitness for them。
〃Now； the'e； ladies； or as I may say guls； if you'll excuse it in one
that's moa like a fatha to you than anything else； in his feelings〃the
girls tittered； and some one shouted derisively〃It's true！now there
is a shoe； or call it a slippa； that I've rutha hesitated about showin'
to you； because I know that you're all rutha serious…minded； I don't ca'e
how young ye be； or how good…lookin' ye be； and I don't presume the'e's
one among you that's eve head o' dancin'。〃 In the mirthful hooting and
mocking that followed； the shoeman hedged gravely from the extreme
position he had taken。 〃What？ Well； maybe you have among some the summa
folks； but we all know what summa folks ah'； and I don't expect you to
patte'n by them。 But what I will say is that if any young lady within
the sound of my voice；〃he looked round for the applause which did not
fail him in his parody of the pulpit style〃should get an invitation to
a dance next winta； and should feel it a wo'k of a charity to the young
man to go； she'll be sorryon his account； remembathat she ha'n't got
this pair o' slippas。
The'a！ They're a numba two； and they'll fit any lady here； I don't ca'e
how small a foot she's got。 Don't all speak at once； sistas ！ Ample
time allowed for meals。 That's a custom…made shoe； and if it hadn't b'en
too small for the lady they was oddid foh； you couldn't…'a' got 'em for
less than seven dollas； but now I'm throwin' on 'em away for three。〃
A groan of dismay went up from the whole circle； and some who had pressed
forward for a sight of the slippers； shrank back again。
〃Did I hea' just now；〃 asked the shoeman； with a soft insinuation in his
voice； and in the glance he suddenly turned upon Clementina； 〃a party
addressed as Boss？〃 Clementina flushed； but she did not cower； the chef
walked away with a laugh； and the shoeman pursued him with his voice。
〃Not that I am goin' to folla the wicked example of a man who tries to
make spot of young ladies； but if the young lady addressed as Boss〃
〃Miss Claxon；〃 said the clerk with ingratiating reverence。
〃Miss ClaxonI Stan' corrected；〃 pursued the shoeman。 〃If Miss Claxon
will do me the fava just to try on this slippa； I sh'd be able to tell at
the next place I stopped just how it looked on a lady's foot。 I see you
a'n't any of you disposed to buy 'em this aftanoon； 'and I a'n't
complainin'； you done pootty well by me； already； and I don't want to
uhge you； but I do want to carry away the picture； in my mind's eyewhat
you may call a mental photographof this slipper on the kind of a foot
it was made fob； so't I can praise it truthfully to my next customer。
What do you say； ma'am？〃 he addressed himself with profound respect to
Clementina。
〃Oh； do let him； Clem！〃 said one of the girls； and another pleaded； 〃Just
so he needn't tel