Page:Arthur Stringer-The Loom of Destiny.djvu/144

The Loom of Destiny And now Tiddlywinks kisses and hugs and mauls his mamma as much and as often as he pleases, and they call each other "Heart's Desire" once more, and though he leaves a dozen smudges on her very best gown, why should anything be said of a little thing like that?

In fact, Hal took Tiddlywinks to Princeton with him for a few days, and when they came back James, the coachman, was informed by wire that Major Hummerley was forwarding by steamer "Colombo" one live alligator. This was duly handed over to Tiddlywinks on his seventh birthday, with the information that her name was Flora, and that the same was for carrying out the instructions of a superior officer.

But the cook always insisted on the point that there was such a thing as making a child take life too seriously. 132