intermittently insistent within him, and by the child which undiplomatic
people too often assume him to be. Thus with William's attire: he could
ill have borne any suggestion that it was not of the mode, but taking
care of it was a different matter. Also, when it came to his appetite,
he could and would eat anything at any time, but something younger than
his years led him--often in semi-secrecy--to candy-stores and soda-water
fountains and ice-cream parlors; he still relished green apples and knew
cravings for other dangerous inedibles. But these survivals were far
from painful to him; what injured his sensibilities was the disposition
on the part of people especially his parents, and frequently his aunts
and uncles--to regard him as a little boy. Briefly, the deference his
soul demanded in its own right, not from strangers only, but from
his family, was about that which is supposed to be shown a Grand Duke
visiting his Estates. Therefore William suffered often.

But the full ignominy of the task his own mother had set him this
afternoon was not realized until he and Genesis set forth upon the
return journey from the second-hand shop, bearing the two wash-tubs, a
clothes-wringer (which Mrs. Baxter had forgotten to mention), and the
tin boiler--and followed by the lowly Clematis.




V

SORROWS WITHIN A BOILER

There was something really pageant-like about the little excursion now,
and the glittering clothes-boiler, borne on high, sent flashing lights