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Clementina。
〃Oh； do let him； Clem！〃 said one of the girls； and another pleaded； 〃Just
so he needn't tell a story to his next customa；〃 and that made the rest
laugh。
Clementina's heart was throbbing； and joyous lights were dancing in her
eyes。 〃I don't care if I do；〃 she said； and she stooped to unlace her
shoe； but one of the big girls threw herself on her knees at her feet to
prevent her。 Clementina remembered too late that there was a hole in her
stocking and that her little toe came through it； but she now folded the
toe artfully down； and the big girl discovered the hole in time to abet
her attempt at concealment。 She caught the slipper from the shoeman and
harried it on； she tied the ribbons across the instep； and then put on
the other。 〃Now put out youa foot； Clem！ Fast dancin' position！〃 She
leaned back upon her own heels； and Clementina daintily lifted the edge
of her skirt a little； and peered over at her feet。 The slippers might
or might not have been of an imperfect taste； in their imitation of the
prevalent fashion； but on Clementina's feet they had distinction。
〃Them feet was made for them slippas；〃 said the shoeman devoutly。
The clerk was silent； he put his hand helplessly to his mouth； and then
dropped it at his side again。
Gregory came round the corner of the building from the dining…room； and
the big girl who was crouching before Clementina； and who boasted that
she was not afraid of the student； called saucily to him； 〃Come here； a
minute； Mr。 Gregory；〃 and as he approached； she tilted aside； to let him
see Clementina's slippers。
Clementina beamed up at him with all her happiness in her eyes； but after
a faltering instant； his face reddened through its freckles； and he gave
her a rebuking frown and passed on。
〃Well； I decla'e！〃 said the big girl。 Fane turned uneasily； and said
with a sigh； he guessed he must be going； now。
A blight fell upon the gay spirits of the group； and the shoeman asked
with an ironical glance after Gregory's retreating figure； 〃Owna of this
propaty？〃
〃No； just the ea'th；〃 said the big girl； angrily。
The voice of Clementina made itself heard with a cheerfulness which had
apparently suffered no chill； but was really a rising rebellion。 〃How
much ah' the slippas？〃
〃Three dollas；〃 said the shoeman in a surprise which he could not conceal
at Clementina's courage。
She laughed； and stooped to untie the slippers。 〃That's too much for
me。〃
〃Let me untie 'em； Clem；〃 said the big girl。 〃It's a shame for you eva
to take 'em off。〃
〃That's right； lady；〃 said the shoeman。 〃And you don't eva need to；〃 he
added； to Clementina； 〃 unless you object to sleepin' in 'em。 You pay me
what you want to now； and the rest when I come around the latta paht of
August。〃
〃Oh keep 'em； Clem！〃 the big girl urged； passionately； and the rest
joined her with their entreaties。
〃I guess I betta not；〃 said Clementina； and she completed the work of
taking off the slippers in which the big girl could lend her no further
aid； such was her affliction of spirit。
〃All right； lady；〃 said the shoeman。 〃Them's youa slippas； and I'll just
keep 'em for you till the latta paht of August。〃
He drove away； and in the woods which he had to pass through on the road
to another hotel he overtook the figure of a man pacing rapidly。 He
easily recognized Gregory； but he bore him no malice。 〃Like a lift？〃
he asked； slowing up beside him。
〃No； thank you；〃 said Gregory。 〃I'm out for the walk。〃 He looked round
furtively； and then put his hand on the side of the wagon； mechanically；
as if to detain it； while he walked on。
〃Did you sell the slippers to the young lady？〃
〃Well； not as you may say sell； exactly；〃 returned the shoeman；
cautiously。
〃Have you…got them yet？〃 asked the student。
〃Guess so；〃 said the man。 〃Like to see 'em？〃
He pulled up his horse。
Gregory faltered a moment。 Then he said； I'd like to buy them。 Quick！〃
He looked guiltily about； while the shoeman alertly obeyed； with some
delay for a box to put them in。 〃How much are they？〃
〃Well； that's a custom made slipper； and the price to the lady that
oddid'em was seven dollas。 But I'll let you have 'em for threeif you
want 'em for a present。〃 The shoeman was far too discreet to permit
himself anything so overt as a smile； he merely let a light of
intelligence come into his face。
Gregory paid the money。 〃Please consider this as confidential；〃 he said；
and he made swiftly away。 Before the shoeman could lock the drawer that
had held the slippers； and clamber to his perch under the buggy…hood；
Gregory was running back to him again。
〃Stop！〃 he called； and as he came up panting in an excitement which the
shoeman might well have mistaken for indignation attending the discovery
of some blemish in his purchase。 〃Do you regard this as in any manner a
deception？〃 he palpitated。
〃Why；〃 the shoeman began cautiously； 〃it wa'n't what you may call a
promise； exactly。 More of a joke than anything else； I looked on it。 I
just said I'd keep 'em for her； but〃
〃You don't understand。 If I seemed to disapproveif I led any one to
suppose； by my manner； or byanythingthat I thought it unwise or
unbecoming to buy the shoes； and then bought them myself； do you think it
is in the nature of an acted falsehood？〃
〃Lo'd no！〃 said the shoeman； and he caught up the slack of his reins to
drive on； as if he thought this amusing maniac might also be dangerous。
Gregory stopped him with another question。 〃And shallwill youthink
it necessary to speak ofof this transaction？ I leave you free！〃
〃Well；〃 said the shoeman。 〃I don't know what you're after； exactly； but
if you think I'm so shot on for subjects that I've got to tell the folks
at the next stop that I sold a fellar a pair of slippas for his gulGo
'long！〃 he called to his horse； and left Gregory standing in the middle
of the road。
VIII。
The people who came to the Middlemount in July were ordinarily the
nicest； but that year the August folks were nicer than usual and there
were some students among them； and several graduates just going into
business； who chose to take their outing there instead of going to the
sea…side or the North Woods。 This was a chance that might not happen in
years again； and it made the house very gay for the young ladies； they
ceased to pay court to the clerk； and asked him for letters only at mail…
time。 Five or six couples were often on the floor together； at the hops；
and the young people sat so thick upon the stairs that one could scarcely
get up or down。
So many young men made it gay not only for the young ladies； but also for
a certain young married lady； when she managed to shirk her rather filial
duties to her husband； who was much about the verandas； purblindly
feeling his way with a stick； as he walked up and down； or sitting opaque
behind the glasses that preserved what was left of his sight； while his
wife read to him。 She was soon acquainted with a good many more people
than he knew； and was in constant request for such occasions as needed a
chaperon not averse to mountain climbing； or drives to other hotels for
da