de would
be loud and continuous. . . A day or two later he brought a copy of
the London "World" which had a sketch of Kipling in it and a mention of
the fact that he had traveled in the United States. According to the
sketch he had passed through Elmira. This remark, with the additional
fact that he hailed from India, attracted my attention--also Susy's. She
went to her room and brought his card from its place in the frame of her
mirror, and the Quarry Farm visitor stood identified.

A theatrical production of "The Prince and the Pauper," dramatized by
Mrs. A. S. Richardson, was one of the events of this period. It was a
charming performance, even if not a great financial success, and little
Elsie Leslie, who played the double part of the Prince and Tom Canty,
became a great favorite in the Clemens home. She was also a favorite of
the actor and playwright, William Gillette, [9] and once when Clemens and
Gillette were together they decided to give the little girl a surprise--a
pair of slippers, in fact, embroidered by themselves. In his
presentation letter to her, Mark Twain wrote:

"Either of us could have thought of a single slipper, but it took both of
us to think of two slippers. In fact, one of us did think of one
slipper, and then, quick as a flash, the other thought of the other one."

He apologized for his delay:

"You see, it was my first attempt at art, and I couldn't rightly get the
hang of it, along at first. And then I was so busy I couldn't get a
chance to work at home, and they wouldn't let me embroider on the cars;
they said it made the other passengers afraid. . . Take the slippers
and wear them next your heart, Elsie dear, for every stitch in them is a
testimony of the affection which two of your loyalest friends bear you.
Every single stitch cost us blood. I've got twice as many pores in me
now as I used to have . . . . Do not wear these slippers in public,
dear; it would only excite envy; and, as like as not, somebody would try
to shoot you."

For five years Mark Twain had not published a book. Since the appearance
of "Huck Finn" at the end of 1884 he had given the public only an
occasional magazine story or article. His business struggle and the
type-setter had consumed not only his fortune, but his time and energy.
Now, at last, however, a book was ready. "A Connecticut Yankee in King
Arthur's Court" came from the press of Webster & Co. at the end of 1889,
a handsome book, elaborately and strik