"Of course," said Mattie.
"I don't doubt it," said her father; "but I like things neat and clean. And I don't like him. He thinks a deal of himself."
"Surely he's neat and clean enough," said Spelt.
"Now, you don't know what I mean. A man ought always to know what another man means before he makes his remarks. I mean, I like a book to go out of my sight, and the price of it to go into my pocket, right slick off. But here's Dolman come to fetch you, Spelt," said the bookseller, as the cobbler made his appearance at the half-open door of the parlor.
"No, I ain't," said Dolman. "I only come to let the guv'nor know as I'm a going home."
"Where's that?" asked Kitely.
"Leastways, I mean going home with a pair o' boots," answered Dolman, evasively, wiping his nose with the back of his hand.
"Ah!" said the bookseller.
CHAPTER VI.