Chapter 2

           "Good-morning,"Mr.Buttonsaidnervously,totheclerkintheChesapeakeDryGoodsCompany."Iwanttobuysomeclothesformychild."

           "Howoldisyourchild,sir?"

           "Aboutsixhours,"answeredMr.Button,withoutdueconsideration.

           "Babies’supplydepartmentintherear."

           "Why,Idon’tthink—I’mnotsurethat’swhatIwant.It’s—he’sanunusuallylarge-sizechild.Exceptionally—ahlarge."

           "Theyhavethelargestchild’ssizes."

           "Whereistheboys’department?"inquiredMr.Button,shiftinghisgrounddesperately.Hefeltthattheclerkmustsurelyscenthisshamefulsecret.

           "Righthere."

           "Well——"Hehesitated.Thenotionofdressinghissoninmen’sclotheswasrepugnanttohim.If,say,hecouldonlyfindaverylargeboy’ssuit,hemightcutoffthatlongandawfulbeard,dyethewhitehairbrown,andthusmanagetoconcealtheworst,andtoretainsomethingofhisownself-respect—nottomentionhispositioninBaltimoresociety.

           Butafranticinspectionoftheboys’departmentrevealednosuitstofitthenew-bornButton.Heblamedthestore,ofcourse—insuchcasesitisthethingtoblamethestore.

           "Howolddidyousaythatboyofyourswas?"demandedtheclerkcuriously.

           "He’s—sixteen."