"To-morrow will do for the Park," said Mrs. Laval. "And you will have other Saturdays, Norton."
Matilda went upstairs to get ready, thinking that she was beginning to find out what sort of "opportunities" were likely to be given her in her new home. She was going to have opportunity for self-conquest, for self-denial, harder than she had ever known hitherto; opportunity to follow the straight path where it was not always easy to see it, and where it could only be found by keeping the face steadily in the right direction. In the midst of these thoughts, however, she dressed herself with great glee; put her purse in her pocket; and set out with Norton, remembering that in this matter of buying her boots her motto must come in play.
As it was rather early in the morning, the shoe store of Mr. Laddler was nearly empty, and Matilda had immediate attention. Matilda told what she wanted; the shopman glanced an experienced eye over her little figure, from her hat to the ground; gave her a seat, and proceeded to fit her. The very first pair of boots "went on like a glove," the man said. And they were very handsome. But the price was seven dollars! It would take her whole stock in hand.
"Can't you give me a pair that will cost less?" Matilda asked, after a pause of inward dismay.
"Those are what you want," said the man. "They fit, to a T; you cannot better that fit."
"But you have some that don't cost so much?"
"They would not look so well," said the shopman. "We have boots not finished in the same style, for less money; but you want those. That's the article."
"Please let me see the others."
He brought some to shew. They were of less fine and beautifully dressed stuff, were more coarsely made, and less elegant in their cut. Matilda saw all that, and hesitated. The man looked at her.
"There's a pair here," he said, turning back to his drawer, "that I can let you have for five dollars;—just as good as that first pair."