I _like_ what we got now. Mother always said we
were to be gentlemen; but we never could be that way. Father and Mr. Tower
and Mr. Dovesky are gentlemen, just as kind, and easy, and fine. When we
were mean as could be, and acted like fight-cats, you remember father and
Mr. Tower only _held_ us; they didn't get mad and beat us. If mother comes
you may go with her if you want to."
"I wish she'd come with us!" said Malcolm.
"Not mother! We ain't her kind of a party."
"I know it," admitted Malcolm slowly. "Sometimes I want her just awful. I
wonder why?"
"I guess it's 'cause a boy is born wanting his mother. I want her myself a
lot of times, but I wouldn't go with her if she'd come today, so I don't
know _why_ I want her, but I _do_ sometimes."
"I didn't know you did," said Malcolm.
"Well I do," said James, "but I ain't ever going. Often I think the
queerest things!"
"What queer things do you think, James?"
"Why like this," said James. "That it ain't _safe_ to let children be
jerked, and their heads knocked.
Pages:
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628