44 History of Gutta-Percha Willie.

If I were writing a big book, instead of a little
one, I should be tempted to say not only that this
set Hector a thinking, but what it made him think

‘aswell. Instead of replying, however, he laid down
his boot, rose, and first taking from a shelf a whole
skin of calf-leather, and next a low chair from a
corner of the room, he set the latter near his own
seat opposite the window.

«Sit down there, then, Willie,” he said; adding,
as he handed him the calf-skin, “There’s your
leather, and my tools are at your service. Make
your shoes, and welcome. I shall be glad of your
company.”

Having thus spoken, he sat down again, caught
up his boot hurriedly, and began sires away as
if for bare life.

Willie took the calf-skin on his lap, somewhat
bewildered. If he had been asked to cut out a pair
of sevén-leagued boots for the ogre, there would
have seemed to his eyes enough of leather for them
in that one skin. But héw ever was he to find two
pieces small enough for doll’s shoes in such an
ocean of leather? He began to turn it round and
round, looking at it all along the edge, while Hector
was casting sidelong glances at him in the midst of
his busyness, with a curiosity on his face which his
desire to conceal it caused to look grim instead of
amused.