A-Pair-of-Silk-Stockings

1APairofSilkStockingsKatherineMansfieldLittleMissusSommersonedayfoundherselftheunexpectedowneroffifteendollars.Itseemedtoheraverylargeamountofmoney.Thewayitfilledupherwornmoneyholdergaveherafeelingofimportancethatshehadnotenjoyedforyears.Thequestionofinvestmentwasonesheconsideredcarefully.Foradayortwoshewalkedaroundinadreamystateasshethoughtaboutherchoices.Shedidnotwishtoactquicklyanddoanythingshemightregret.Duringthequiethoursofthenightshelayawakeconsideringideas.AdollarortwocouldbeaddedtothepricesheusuallypaidforherdaughterJanie'sshoes.Thiswouldguaranteetheywouldlastagreatdeallongerthanusual.Shewouldbuyclothfornewshirtsfortheboys.HerdaughterMagshouldhaveanotherdress.Andstilltherewouldbeenoughleftfornewstockings—twopairsperchild.Whattimethatwouldsaveherinalwaysrepairingoldstockings!Theideaofherlittlefamilylookingfreshandnewforonceintheirlivesmadeherrestlesswithexcitement.TheneighborssometimestalkedofthebetterdaysthatlittleMissusSommershadknownbeforeshehadeverthoughtofbeingMissusSommers.Sheherselfneverlookedbacktoheryoungerdays.Shehadnotimetothinkaboutthepast.Theneedsofthepresenttookallherenergy.MissusSommersknewthevalueoffindingthingsforsaleatreducedprices.Shecouldstandforhoursmakingherwaylittlebylittletowardthedesiredobjectthatwassellingbelowcost.Shecouldpushherwayifneedbe.Butthatdayshewastiredandalittlebitweak.Shehadeatenalightmeal—no!Shethoughtaboutherday.Betweengettingthechildrenfedandthehousecleaned,andpreparingherselftogoshopping,shehadforgottentoeatatall!Whenshearrivedatthelargedepartmentstore,shesatinfrontofanemptycounter.Shewastryingtogatherstrengthandcouragetopushthroughamassofbusyshoppers.Sherestedherhanduponthecounter.Sheworenogloves.Sheslowlygrewawarethatherhandhadfeltsomethingverypleasanttotouch.Shelookeddowntoseethatherhandlayuponapileofsilkstockings.Asignnearbyannouncedthattheyhadbeenreducedinprice.Ayounggirlwhostoodbehindthecounteraskedherifshewishedtoexaminethesilkylegcoverings.Shesmiledasifshehadbeenaskedtoinspectdiamondjewelrywiththeaimofpurchasingit.Butshewentonfeelingthesoft,costlyitems.Nowsheusedbothhands,holdingthestockingsuptoseethelightshinethroughthem.Tworedmarkssuddenlyshowedonherpaleface.Shelookedupattheshopgirl.Doyouthinkthereareanysizeeights-and-a-halfamongthese?Therewereagreatnumberofstockingsinhersize.MissusSommerschoseablackpairandlookedatthemclosely.Adollarandninety-eightcents,shesaidaloud.Well,Iwillbuythispair.2Shehandedthegirlafivedollarbillandwaitedforherchangeandthewrappedboxwiththestockings.Whataverysmallboxitwas!Itseemedlostinherwornoldshoppingbag.MissusSommersthentooktheelevatorwhichcarriedhertoanupperfloorintotheladies'restarea.Inanemptycorner,shereplacedhercottonstockingsforthenewsilkones.Forthefirsttimesheseemedtobetakingarestfromthetiringactofthought.Shehadletherselfbecontrolledbysomemachine-likeforcethatdirectedheractionsandfreedherofresponsibility.Howgoodwasthetouchofthesilkonherskin!Shefeltlikelyingbackinthesoftchairandenjoyingtherichnessofit.Shedidforalittlewhile.Thensheputhershoesbackonandputheroldstockingsintoherbag.Next,shewenttotheshoedepartment,satdownandwaitedtobefitted.Theyoungshoesalesmanwasunabletoguessaboutherbackground.Hecouldnotresolveherworn,oldshoeswithherbeautiful,newstockings.Shetriedonapairofnewboots.Sheheldbackherskirtsandturnedherfeetonewayandherheadanotherwayasshelookeddownattheshiny,pointedboots.Herfootandanklelookedverylovely.Shecouldnotbelievethattheywereapartofherself.Shetoldtheyoungsalesmanthatshewantedanexcellentandstylishfit.Shesaidshedidnotmindpayingextraaslongasshegotwhatshedesired.Afterbuyingthenewboots,shewenttotheglovedepartment.ItwasalongtimesinceMissusSommershadbeenfittedwithgloves.Whenshehadboughtapairtheywerealwaysbargains,socheapthatitwouldhavebeenunreasonabletohaveexpectedthemtobefittedtoherhand.Nowsherestedherarmonthecounterwheregloveswereforsale.Ayoungshopgirldrewasoft,leathergloveoverMissusSommers'shand.Shesmootheditdownoverthewristandbuttoneditneatly.Bothwomenlostthemselvesforasecondortwoastheyquietlypraisedthelittleglovedhand.Therewereotherplaceswheremoneymightbespent.Astoredownthestreetsoldbooksandmagazines.MissusSommersboughttwocostlymagazinesthatsheusedtoreadbackwhenshehadbeenabletoenjoyotherpleasantthings.Sheliftedherskirtsasshecrossedthestreet.Hernewstockingsandbootsandgloveshadworkedwondersforherappearance.Theyhadgivenherafeelingofsatisfaction,asenseofbelongingtothewell-dressedcrowds.Shewasveryhungry.Anothertimeshewouldhaveignoredthedesireforfooduntilreachingherownhome.Buttheforcethatwasguidingherwouldnotpermithertoactonsuchathought.Therewasarestaurantatthecorner.Shehadneverentereditsdoors.Shehadsometimeslookedthroughthewindows.Shehadnotedthewhitetablecloths,shiningglassesandwaitersservingwealthypeople.Whensheentered,herappearancecreatednosurpriseorconcern,asshehadhalffeareditmight.3Sheseatedherselfatasmalltable.Awaitercameatoncetotakeherorder.Sheorderedsixoysters,achop,somethingsweet,aglassofwineandacupofcoffee.Whilewaitingtobeservedsheremovedherglovesveryslowlyandsetthembesideher.Thenshepickeduphermagazinea