The fact was, I was thinking about my boots and hat in the bag, and wondering when I should put them on.
Bother it! Why should I mind her or her remarks?
Some other new chap might get in at the next station, and I couldn't change before him.

I'd better get myself up to form now, and so be ready.
So, to the old lady's surprise, I proceeded to take off my shoes and put on the thick tan boots in their place.

She watched me in mingled admiration and surprise--no doubt the fresh yellow was very imposing, and made me look as if I was shod in gold.

But the High Street at Low Heath would presently be sparkling with a hundred pairs of such boots, so what mattered an old lady's temporary astonishment?
It was the same about the hat--indeed worse.

For at the sight of that particularly sporting adornment, she threw up her hands and exclaimed,-- "What a funny little fellow, to be sure!" I tried to look grave, and as if I had not heard her, but I felt very conscious of the hat all the same, and only hoped another new boy would get in presently, so that she might see that a thing might be the fashion and yet she not know it.
I was a good deal perplexed about the lavender gloves.