ragged lady, v1-第10节

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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　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　i