Publisher's Synopsis
"Oh Norton! Oh Norton! do you know what has happened?" Matilda had left the study and rushed out into the dining-room to tell her news, if indeed it were news to Norton. She had heard his step. Norton seemed in a preoccupied state of mind. "Yes!" he said. "I know that confounded shoemaker has left something in the heel of my boot which is killing me." Matilda was not like some children. She could wait; and she waited, while Norton pulled off his boot, made examinations into the interior, and went stoutly to work with penknife and file. In the midst of it he looked up, and asked, - "What has happened to you, Pink?" "Then don't you know yet, Norton?" "Of course not. I would fine all shoemakers who leave their work in such a slovenly state! If I didn't limp all the way from the bridge here, it was because I wouldn't, -not because I wouldn't like to." "Why not limp, if it saved your foot?" inquired Matilda. "You would, Pink, wouldn't you?" "Why, yes; certainly I would." "Well, you might," said Norton. "But did you ever read the story of the Spartan boy and the fox?" "No."
