Page:Arthur Stringer-The Loom of Destiny.djvu/130

The Loom of Destiny from Lonehurst for two years, to build one of his wonderful canals somewhere in South America, which was almost as far away as India itself, Tiddlywinks was unspeakably heavy of heart. His papa, in saying good-bye, had pointed out to him that he would be the only man left at home, as Harrington, his big brother, was at Princeton most of the year, and could not be around to take care of things. Harrington was really not his brother, but just his step-brother, for his own mother was not much older than Hal; but then it was just the same as being brothers.

So when Tiddlywinks remembered that he was the only man left with his mother at Lonehurst, it was natural he should regard himself as the guardian and protector of the house of Hummerley, and consequently take both life and himself quite seriously.

But over and above all this, when his papa was saying those last good-byes to the weeping and broken-hearted Tiddlywinks and his mamma, he laughingly told the child that thereafter it should be his grave and solemn duty to look after and watch over his other, 118