I had to persuade my mother to allow me to choose my own gloves and boots; and expended the money in such a manner that I could show her an ordinary pair of each, while the special articles were carefully concealed in my box.
She thought the cheap black shoes and dog-skin gloves I paraded before her dear at the price; but she little knew that I had safely stowed away an elegant pair of light lavender gloves and a pair of tan boots of the most fashionable appearance.
I had some difficulty about the former.

For six-button gloves for young gents was not a "stock-line" in any of the shops.

I had finally to get a lady's twelve-button pair and cut them down to suit my requirements.
The tan boots were more easily procured, although it grated somewhat against my feelings to be sent over to the ladies' side of the shop to get them, as they were not kept for boys on the men's side.

As it was, I feared they did not come up to Tempest's description of "thick boots for kicking back in," but they were the thickest I could procure.
At length my preparations were all complete.

My mother had been an angel about them all.