"Why don't you, then?"
"Perhaps I shall this afternoon."
He intended at the time to make one more plea with his mother; but when the hour came she was busy with household duties; and there was a grave expression on her face which did not look very hopeful. He went out the back door to be by himself.
"I have a good mind to try it," he began. "Mother hasn't said any thing about it this great while, so I shouldn't be disobeying. I'll hide my shoes here and put them on before she knows it."
"If you are not disobeying, why do you hide them?" asked conscience.
Dick knew he was doing wrong; and he did not deceive himself by any more arguing. "Mother don't know how hot my feet are with shoes and stockings," he said to himself, "or she wouldn't make me wear them."
After he had gone, the door bell rang; and Mrs. Stuart answered it. It was a beggar who wanted food and old clothes. When she had supplied his wants to the best of her ability, she saw him take something from beneath the front steps, and hide it under his coat.
"Mother! mother!" cried little Lyman, rushing into the house. "Man has got Dick's shoes."
"Are you sure Dick did not wear shoes to school?"
"I saw him take 'em off under the steps."