A little while after this, as the cobbler sat calmly reading his newspaper, the man who left the first pair strolled into the shop.
“As I happen to be passing,” he said, “I’ll just take my boots with me.” But, seeing a confused look on the cobbler’s face, he added:
“Of course they’re ready; you know they were to be done the day before yesterday.”
Then, looking on the floor, he saw them lying exactly where he had left them.
“I’ve been so very bu—busy,” stammered the cobbler, “that I haven’t got ’em quite finished yet.”
“‘Quite finished’!” exclaimed the man. “Why, you haven’t touched them!”
“But I’m going to begin this minute,” said the cobbler, “and you shall have them to-morrow, for certain.”
He who is the least urgent is apt to be the last served.