"Have you got a pair of cheap shoes Sir that would do for an office?"

"'Ave I got a pair o' cheap shoes young man that would do for a hoffice? I've got hundereds on 'em that would do for the Queen's drawin' room," said Mr. Bopps hitching up the leathern girdle that bound his leathern apron.

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But you see I don't want 'em for the Queen's drawing-room," said Master Tenpenny saucily eyeing Mr. Bopps, who, in his estimation, wanted taking down, and must be taken down accordingly. "I want 'em for an office."

Bopps, who wore large-rimmed spectacles, looked sharply at the youth, but decided not to be offended.

"Well Sir, walk in and you shall 'ave 'em for a hoffice hif that's your will."

And into the shop went Tenpenny. Inside there, earth and sky were boots. The ceiling

was hung with boots; the shelves were piled with boots and shoes; the floor was strewn with them: the air was pervaded with a leathery, waxy, smell.

"Now Master," said Mr. Bopps, "ave the goodness to seat yourself hon that chair, han' Miss Bopps shall hattend to you. Hangelina!"

At this summons, from the dark interior of an

inner shop, emerged a young lady, with a torn upper in her hand which she had been engaged in mending.

"Hattend to this young gen'leman" said Mr. Bopps magnificently, “ Pair o' hoffice slippers."

And Mr. Bopps resumed his place in the doorway filling it up with his ample form and stopping nearly all the light that could struggle into the place.

Mr. Bopps was short and chubby, though of a pale-dirty, or, perhaps to put it more accurately,

"Tenpenny thereupon put his arm round her neck and kissed her."

Page 51.

yellow-leathery complexion: Mrs. Bopps was short and chubby, and so far as could be judged from examination of her outward habiliments of exactly the same contour as her husband, but the chubbiness of her cheeks was brilliant with a fine ruddy glow and Miss Bopps was short and chubby, with small bright blue eyes, and a rubescent complexion, and a lively manner and action.

Tenpenny, who could just manage to make her out in the uncertain light, very much preferred her to her father. When she addressed him he grinned at her: and when she kneeled down to measure his size he winked at her, and grinned again. She tossed her curls, and put a finger up in silent warning. Tenpenny thereupon put his arm round her neck and kissed her.

He was an advanced student of human nature.

She struggled and uttered a stifled cry.