decorated
with lines of small parasite buttons, in color blue, obviously buttons
of leisure. His bulbous new shoes flashed back yellow fire at the
embarrassed sun, and his collar (for he had gone so far) sent forth
other sparkles, playing upon a polished surface over an inner graining
of soot. Beneath it hung a simple, white, soiled evening tie, draped in
a manner unintended by its manufacturer, and heavily overburdened by a
green glass medallion of the Emperor Tiberius, set in brass.

"Yesm," said Genesis. "Now I'm in 'at Swim--flyin' roun' ev'y night wif
all lem blue-vein people--I say, 'Mus' go buy me some blue-vein clo'es!
Ef I'm go'n' a START, might's well start HIGH!' So firs', I buy me
thishere gol' necktie pin wi' thishere lady's face carved out o' green
di'mon', sittin' in the middle all 'at gol'. 'Nen I buy me pair Royal
King shoes. I got a frien' o' mine, thishere Blooie Bowers; he say Royal
King shoes same kine o' shoes HE wear, an' I walk straight in 'at sto'
where they keep 'em at. 'Don' was'e my time showin' me no ole-time
shoes,' I say. 'Run out some them big, yella, lump-toed Royal Kings
befo' my eyes, an' firs' pair fit me I pay price, an' wear 'em right off
on me!' 'Nen I got me thishere suit o' clo'es--OH, oh! Sign on 'em in
window: 'Ef you wish to be bes'-dress' man in town take me home fer six
dolluhs ninety-sevum cents.' ''At's kine o' suit Genesis need,' I say.
'Ef Genesis go'n' a start dressin' high, might's well start top!'"

Jane nodded gravely, comprehending the reasonableness of this view.
"What made you decide to start, Genesis?" she asked, earnestly. "I mean,
how did it happen you began to get this way?"

"Well, suh, 'tall come 'bout right like kine o' slidin' into it 'stid
o' hoppin' an' jumpin'. I'z spen' the even' at 'at lady's house, Fanny,
what cook nex' do', las' year. Well, suh, 'at lady Fanny, she quit
privut cookin', she kaytliss--"

"She's what?" Jane asked. "What's that mean, Genesis--kaytliss?"

"She kaytuhs," he explained. "Ef it's a man you call him kaytuh; ef it's
a lady, she's a kaytliss. She does kaytun fer all lem blue-vein fam'lies
in town. She make ref'eshmuns, bring waituhs--'at's kaytun. You' maw
give big dinnuh, she have Fanny kaytuh, an' don't take no trouble 'tall
herself. Fanny take all 'at trouble."

"I see," said Jane. "But I don't see how her bein' a kaytliss started
you to dressin' so high, Genesis."

"Thishere way. Fanny say, 'Look here, Genesis, I got