46 History of Gutta-Percha Willie,

 

“T don’t. I never could trust myself so far as
that, nearly. You might be pretty nigh it one way
and all wrong another, for you have to consider
length and breadth and roundabout. I will tell
you the best way for you to do. Set the doll
standing on a bit of paper, and draw a pencil all
round her foot with the point close to it on the
paper. Both feet will be better, for it would be a
anistake to suppose they must be of the same size.
That will give you the size of the sole. Then take
a strip of paper and see how long a piece it takes
to go round the thickest part of the foot, and cut it
off to that length. That will be sufficient measure-
ment for a doll’s shoe, for even if it should not fit
exactly, she won’t mind either being pinched a little
or having to walk a little loose.”

Willie got up at once to go and do as Hector
had told him; but Hector was not willing to part
with him so soon, for it was not often he had any-
body to talk to while he went on with his work,
Therefore he said—

“But don’t you think, Willie, before you set
about it, you had better see how I do? It would
be a pity to spend your labour in finding out for
yourself what shoemakers have known for hundreds
of years, and which you could learn so easily by
letting me show you.”

“Thank you,” said Willie, sitting down again.
“JT should like that very: much. I will sit and