Mr. Thomas Marvel

           YoumustpictureMr.ThomasMarvelasapersonofcopious,flexiblevisage,anoseofcylindricalprotrusion,aliquorish,ample,fluctuatingmouth,andabeardofbristlingeccentricity. Hisfigureinclinedtoembonpoint;hisshortlimbsaccentuatedthisinclination. Heworeafurrysilkhat,andthefrequentsubstitutionoftwineandshoe-lacesforbuttons,apparentatcriticalpointsofhiscostume,markedamanessentiallybachelor. 

           Mr.ThomasMarvelwassittingwithhisfeetinaditchbytheroadsideoverthedowntowardsAdderdean,aboutamileandahalfoutofIping. Hisfeet,saveforsocksofirregularopen-work,werebare,hisbigtoeswerebroad,andprickedliketheearsofawatchfuldog. Inaleisurelymanner—hedideverythinginaleisurelymanner—hewascontemplatingtryingonapairofboots. Theywerethesoundestbootshehadcomeacrossforalongtime,buttoolargeforhim; whereastheoneshehadwere,indryweather,averycomfortablefit,buttoothin-soledfordamp. Mr.ThomasMarvelhatedroomyshoes,butthenhehateddamp. Hehadneverproperlythoughtoutwhichhehatedmost,anditwasapleasantday,andtherewasnothingbettertodo. Soheputthefourshoesinagracefulgroupontheturfandlookedatthem. Andseeingthemthereamongthegrassandspringingagrimony,itsuddenlyoccurredtohimthatbothpairswereexceedinglyuglytosee. Hewasnotatallstartledbyavoicebehindhim. 

           "They'reboots,anyhow,"saidtheVoice. 

           "Theyare—charityboots,"saidMr.ThomasMarvel,withhisheadononesideregardingthemdistastefully; "andwhichistheugliestpairinthewholeblesseduniverse,I'mdarnedifIknow!" 

           "H'm,"saidtheVoice.