play games, thank you." How could she move, since doing so would
necessitate putting confidence in Miss Massey? Telling her that once
discarded slippers too small even for Maizie had been made to do duty by
cutting the toes and lengthening with black ribbon, ribbon which in a
miserable moment failed in its work? But how eventually to extricate
herself from the miserable predicament? She could not sit forever on her
foot!

Other games were suggested and played by the children, but Suzanna
still sat in the big armchair, one long thin leg dangling, the other
bent under her. She grew fertile in excuses when asked to join the
others. She like to "watch," then she felt a little tired, until Miss
Massey at last sensing that something was wrong did no more urging.

Once little Maizie sought her sister. Why wouldn't Suzanna play? Was she
mad at something?

Suzanna gulped hard, then with manifest effort she whispered: "You know
where mother put the ribbon bag so my slippers would be long enough?
Well, my toe's stuck through the ribbon, and I mustn't move."

"Oh!" Maizie was sorry. "Can't you tell Miss Massey and let her fix it?"

Suzanna shrank back. "No, no," she cried. "You mustn't say anything, do
you hear, Maizie? Promise me."

Maizie solemnly promised. "Will the other one hold?" she asked then.

Thus the little Job's Comforter gave Suzanna food for unpleasant
questionings. Would, indeed, the other slipper hold?