"That I will, my little gentleman," said David, "if I know the game."
"Oh, I don't care what it is, so that it is fun. What is your name?"
"David Dodd."
"Oh."
"And what is yours?"
"What, don't--you--know??? Why, Reginald George Bazalgette. I am
seven. I am the eldest. I am to have more money than the others when
papa dies, Jane says. I wonder when he will die."
"When he does you will lose his love, and that is worth more than his
money; so you take my advice and love him dearly while you have got
him."
"Oh, I like papa very well. He is good-natured all day long. Mamma is
so ill-tempered till dinner, and then they won't let me dine with her;
and then, as soon as mamma has begun to be good-tempered upstairs in
the drawing-room, my bedtime comes directly; it's abominable!!" The
last word rose into a squeak under his sense of wrong.
David smiled kindly: "So it seems we all have our troubles," said he.
"What! have you any troubles?" and Reginald opened his eyes in wonder.
He thought size was an armor against care.
"Not so many as most folk, thank God, but I have some," and David
sighed.
"Why, if I was as big as you, I'd have no troubles. I'd beat everybody
that troubled me, and I would marry Lucy directly"; and at that
beloved name my lord falls into a reverie ten seconds long.
David gave a start, and an ejaculation rose to his lips. He looked
down with comical horror upon the little chubby imp who had divined
his thought.
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