Mrs. Griggs says it NEVER belonged to Jasper Dale 's mother , for she thought it a sin to wear anything but print and drugget ; and this dress was of PALE BLUE silk . Besides that , there was a pair of blue satin slippers on the floor beside it -- HIGH-HEELED slippers . And on the fly-leaves of the books the name ` Alice ' was written . Now , there never was an Alice in the Dale connection and nobody ever heard of the Awkward Man having a sweetheart . There , is n't that a lovely mystery ? '' `` It 's a pretty queer yarn , '' said Felix . `` I wonder if it is true -- and what it means . '' `` I intend to find out what it means , '' said the Story Girl . `` I am going to get acquainted with the Awkward Man sometime , and then I 'll find out his Alice-secret . '' `` I do n't see how you 'll ever get acquainted with him , '' said Felicity . `` He never goes anywhere except to church . He just stays home and reads books when he is n't working . Mother says he is a perfect hermit . '' `` I 'll manage it somehow , '' said the Story Girl -- and we had no doubt that she would . `` But I must wait until I 'm a little older , for he would n't tell the secret of the west room to a little girl . And I must n't wait till I 'm TOO old , for he is frightened of grown-up girls , because he thinks they laugh at his awkwardness . I know I will like him . He has such a nice face , even if he is awkward . He looks like a man you could tell things to . '' `` Well , I 'd like a man who could move around without falling over his own feet , '' said Felicity .
`` And then the look XXXXX him !
Besides at because beside for like of that until with