How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #10
Down by the stream in back of 124 her footprints come and go, come and go. They are so familiar. Should a child, an adult place his feet in them, they will fit. Take them out and they disappear again as though nobody ever walked there. (28.8)
Beloved's footprints are like those pin art toys. You know what we're talking about: the toy is made up of a bunch of pins that you can push with your hand (or in Shmoop's childhood, your face). Once you do that, it takes the form of your hand. In other words, the presence of Beloved is like pure form; she is what you (or anyone else) make of her. Her footprints (or "they") will fit whoever happens to be there. Feeling haunted?