Desirous of appearing to the best advantage, he ordered a new suit from the village tailor without regard to expense, but it was beyond the power of any garments, however costly or showy, to set off the peculiar appearance of Cromwell, or make him look well. But Miss Manton smiled sweetly upon him, and he felt himself to be in paradise.
Occasionally the young lady went into his shop on some ostensible errand, and tarried to have a chat. James Cromwell's heart fluttered with delight whenever he saw her face at the door, and during her stay he could attend to nothing else.
One evening there was to be a concert in the village.
James Cromwell brought home tickets, and said diffidently, "Miss Manton, will you do me the favor to accompany me to the concert this evening?"
"Thank you, Mr. Cromwell," she answered, smiling graciously, "I will accept with pleasure. I was wishing to go, but papa does not feel very well to-day, so I had made up my mind that I must pass my time at home. At what hour does the concert commence?"
"Will it be time if I am ready at quarter past?"
Strange as it may appear, it was the first time in his life that James Cromwell ever acted as escort to a lady in visiting a place of public entertainment, and he felt a degree of awkwardness because of that. But when Clara Manton appeared, she was so gracious and sociable, that all his _mauvaise haute_ disappeared, and he walked arm in arm with her, feeling easier and more unembarrassed than he had supposed to be possible. When they entered the hall he glanced around him with pride at the thought it would be perceived that he was the chosen cavalier of such an attractive young lady.
Of the concert it is unnecessary to speak. It closed at a comparatively early hour, and the two wended their way homeward.
"Shall we prolong our walk a little?" he said. "It is still early, and it is very pleasant."
"Yes; that will be pleasant," she returned. "Papa is probably asleep by this time, and won't miss me. What a charming concert we had."
"None of them sang as well as you, Miss Manton," said Cromwell.
"Oh, now you are flattering me, Mr. Cromwell. I cannot permit that, you know," she said, playfully.
"No," he said earnestly, "I am not flattering you, Miss Clara. You are so--so--I hope you'll excuse me, but you are so beautiful and attractive that----"