The Lost Idea 9

The day after that Timothy sat brooding
in his shop without doing a stitch of work,
although a special messenger had come that
morning with an order for a pair of boots for
the Lord-Lieutenant of the county.

“Tim, dear, wouldn’t it be better to go on
with your work, and forget the Idea ?” said
Mrs. Timothy.

“T can’t,” said Timothy; “my heart is
breaking about my Idea. There isn’t such
an Idea in the county—in the world! I shall
never be happy again!” and he fairly broke
down and sobbed.

“Oh, why did I ever persuade him to take
a holiday!” cried poor Mrs. Timothy. ‘It’s
all my fault!” and she sat down and wept
silently.

“Women make too much fuss about
things!” growled Timothy.

From that time Timothy altered dread-
fully. He entirely neglected his work, and
did nothing but lurk about the village, search-
ing for his lost Idea. The Lord-Lieutenant
of the county came in person to beseech him
to execute his order for boots, and said that