University of Virginia Library

16. CHAPTER XVI.
SHE SPEAKS TO HIM.

After the plan for the rearrangement of the store had
been determined upon, Miss Ludolph commenced studying
its topography. She went regularly through the building
examining closely every part and space, sometimes
sketching a few outlines in a little gilt book. It would
seem that she was seeking by her taste to make the show
rooms pictures in themselves, wherein each part should
blend harmoniously, and create one beautiful effect. Dennis
saw what was coming. The carrying out the plan he
had heard discussed, and he wished with intense longing
that he might be her assistant. But she would as soon have
thought of sending for Pat Murphy. She intended to
select one of the older clerks to aid her. Still Dennis
hoped that by some strange and happy turn of fortune,
part of this work might fall to him.

Every spare moment of early morning and evening he
spent in sketching and studying, but he sadly felt the need
of instruction and money to buy materials. He was merely
groping his way as best he might, and he felt that Miss
Ludolph could teach him so much if she would only condescend
to the task. He was willing to be a very humble
learner at first. If in some way he could only make known
his willingness to pick up the crumbs of knowledge that
she might be willing out of kindness to scatter in his way,
he might expect something from ordinary good nature.

But a week or two passed without his receiving so

much as a glance from those cold blue eyes that rested so
critically on all that passed before them; and on an unlucky
day in March all hope of any help from her, vanished.

Under the influence of Spring the streets were again
becoming muddy and wet, and his duty as boot-black increased
daily. He had arranged to perform this menial
task in a remote corner of the store, as much out of sight
as possible. The duty had become still more disagreeable
since the young lady haunted the place, for he feared she
would learn to associate him only with the dust and blackening
brush.

Just behind where he usually stood, a good picture had
been hung, under Mr. Schwartz's system, simply because
it accurately fitted the space. It was in wretched light,
and could never be seen or appreciated there. Miss Ludolph
in her investigations and plannings discovered this
at a time most unfortunate for poor Dennis. Whilst polishing
away one morning on the huge jumble of leather
that inclosed Mr. Schwartz's broad understanding, he suddenly
became conscious that she was approaching. It
seemed that she was looking directly at him, and was
about to speak. His heart thumped like a trip-hammer,
his cheeks burned, and blur came over his eyes, for he was
diffident in ladies' presence. Therefore he stood before
her the picture of confusion, with the big boot poised in
one hand, and the polishing brush in the other. With the
instincts of a gentleman, however, he made an awkward
bow, feeling, though, that under the circumstances, his
politeness could only appear ridiculous. And he was right.
It was evident from the young lady's face, that her keen
perception of the ridiculous was thoroughly aroused. But
for the sake of her own dignity (she cared not a jot for
him), she bit her lip to control her desire to laugh in his
face, and said rather sharply—

“Will you stand out of my way?”

She had spoken to him.

He was so mortified and confused that in his effort to
obey, he partially fell over a bronze sheep, designed to
ornament some pastoral scene, and the heel of Mr.
Schwartz's heavy boot came down with a thump that made
everything ring. There was a titter from some of the
clerks. Mr. Ludoph, who was following his daughter, exclaimed,

“What's the matter, Fleet? You seem rather unsteady,
this morning, for a church member.”

For a moment he had the general appearance usually
ascribed to his unlucky stumbling-block. But by a strong
effort he recovered himself. Deigning no reply, he set his
teeth, compressed his lips, picked up the boot, and polished
away as before, trying to look and feel regardless of
all the world. In fact he looked as proud as she ever had.
But for the time not noticing him, she said to her father—

“Here is a specimen. Look where this picture is hung.
In boot-black corner I should term it. It would not sell
here in a thousand years, for what little light there is would
be obscured much of the time by somebody's big boots
and the artist in charge. It has evidently been placed
here in view of one principle alone—dimension; its length
and breadth according with the space in the corner. You
will see what a change I will bring about in a month or
two, after my plans are matured,” and then strolled to another
part of the store. But before leaving, Miss Ludolph
happened to glance at Dennis's face, and was much struck
by its expression. Surely Pat Murphy never would or
could look like that. For the first time the thought entered
her mind that Dennis might be of a different clay and
character from Pat. But the next moment his expression
of pride and offended dignity in such close juxtaposition to
the big boot he was twirling almost savagely around, again

appealed to her sense of the ludicrous, and she turned
away with a broad smile. Dennis, looking up, saw the
smile and guessed the cause; and when, a moment after,
Mr. Schwartz appeared, asking in his loud, blunt way,

“My boots ready?”

He felt like flinging both at his head, and leaving the
store forever. Handing them to him without a word, he
hastened up-stairs, for he felt that he must be alone.

At first his impulse was strong to rebel, to assert that
by birth and education he was a gentleman, and must be
treated as such, or he would go elsewhere. But as the
tumult in his mind calmed, the case became as clear to him
as a sum in addition. He had voluntarily taken Pat Murphy's
place, and why should he complain at Pat's treatment.
He had pledged his word that there should be no
trouble from his being above his business, and he resolved
to keep his word till Providence gave him better work to
do. Then he remembered that the hands of his Divine
Lord and Master had done as humble work as his, and
was ashamed of his pride. He bathed his hot face in
cool water, breathed a brief prayer for strength and patience,
and went back to his tasks strong and calm.