Since he
was ordinarily accustomed to select any other streets than those upon
which these magnificent places of custom were situated, merely because
he not only had no interest in them but a positive distaste for seeing
his own name emblazoned--though ever so chastely--above their princely
portals, it may be understood that an entirely new idea was working in
his brain.
Speed as he would, however, running the risk as he approached the city
streets of being stopped by some watchful authority for exceeding the
limits, he could not get back to the broad avenue upon which the stores
stood before six o'clock. There was all the better chance on that
account, nevertheless, for examining the windows before which belated
shoppers were still stopping to wonder and admire.
Well, looking at them with Benson's forlorn windows in his mind as a
foil, he saw them as he never had before. What beauty, what originality,
what art they showed! And at a time of year when, the holiday season
past, it might seem as if there could be no real summons for anybody to
go shopping. They were fairly dazzling, some of them, although many of
them showed only white goods.
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