Page:Arthur Stringer-The Loom of Destiny.djvu/132

The Loom of Destiny with the German nurse and went away, across the ocean, for a whole year. Since then she seemed to be always telling poor Tiddlywinks to be careful and not soil her lace when he wanted to hug her, and that it was rude to stare at people, and that he ought not to play in the servants' hall. In fact, he had to forsake his baby ways, and in time they forgot to call each other "Heart's Desire;" and though they ate and walked and talked together, they drifted apart and became as strangers. The boy soon learned to give her only a formal little kiss, on the cheek or forehead, very much as his papa did. In time, even this occurred only on the necessary occasions, which were, of course, when he was brought down in the morning, and again at night, before he went to bed.

It was no wonder then that Tiddlywinks, in his utter loneliness, used to steal down to the forbidden servants' hall and lavish his love on the portly but good-hearted cook, who gave him, in return for his affection, such quantities of cream-puffs, and custards, 120