sight of Mrs. Biggs tugging at her wet
satchel to open it diverted her mind.

"Your things is sp'ilt, most likely, but you'd better have 'em out. For
the mercy's sake, look!" she said, passing the satchel to Eloise, who
was beyond caring: for what was spoiled and what was not. "There's
somebody knockin'. It's Mr. Bills, most likely, the committee man, come
to see you; I told Tim to notify him," Mrs. Biggs exclaimed, hurrying
out, and saying to Howard as she passed him, "You can visit a spell
before I fetch him in. She needs perkin' up, poor thing."

It proved to be a grocer's boy instead of Mr. Bills, and Mrs. Biggs came
back just as Howard was presenting the slippers.

"I did not think they were just what you wanted," Howard explained, as
he saw the look of surprise on Eloise's face. "Miss Amy is not always
quite clear in her mind, but rather resolute when it is made up; and
when we told her we had to cut off your boot, she insisted upon sending
these."

At this point Mrs. Biggs appeared, throwing up both hands at what she
saw, and exclaiming, "Wall, if I won't give up! Satin slips for a
spraint laig. Yes, I'll give up!"

She looked at Howard, who did not reply, but turned his head to hide his
laugh from Eloise, while Mrs. Biggs went on, "I don't see how she can
ever get her feet into 'em. I can't mine, and I don't b'lieve she can.
Better send 'em back;" and she looked at Eloise, who, if she was proud
of any part of her person, was proud of her feet.

Flushing hotly she said, "They are not suitable for me, of course, but I
think I _could_ get one on my well foot."

"I know you could; try it," Jack said.

Stooping forward Eloise removed her boot, although the effort brought a
horrible twinge to her lame ankle and made her feel faint for a moment.

"Put it on for me, please," she said to Mrs. Biggs, who, mistaking the
right-hand slipper for the left, began tugging at it.

"I told you so," she said. "Your foot is twice as big."

"Try this one," Jack suggested, "or let me;" and he fitted the slipper
at once to the little foot, while Mrs. Biggs exclaimed, "Wall, I vum, it
does fit to a T! If anything, it's too big."

In spite of her pain and embarrassment there was a look of exultation in
Eloise's eyes, as they met those of Jack, who was nearly as pleased as
herself.

"You will keep them and wear them some time," he said; and when Eloise
declined, saying they would be of no use to her, Howard, who had been
w