The Pleasantest Club in London

           AllperambulatorsleadtotheKensingtonGardens.

           Not,however,thatyouwillseeDavidinhisperambulatormuchlonger,forsoonafterIfirstshookhisfaithinhismother,itcametohimtobeupanddoing,andheupanddidintheBroadWalkitself,wherehewouldstandalonemostelaboratelypoised,signingimperiouslytotheBritishpublictotimehim,andlookinghismostheavenlyjustbeforehefell.Hefellwithadump,andastheyalwayslaughedthen,hepretendedthatthiswashisfunnywayoffinishing.

           ThatwasonaMonday.OnTuesdayheclimbedthestonestairoftheGoldKing,lookingoverhisshouldergloriouslyateachstep,andonWednesdayhestruckthreeandwentintoknickerbockers.FortheKensingtonGardens,youmustknow,arefullofshortcuts,familiartoallwhoplaythere;andtheshortestleadsfromthebabyinlongclothestothelittleboyofthreeridingonthefence.ItiscalledtheMother’sTragedy.

           Ifyouareaburgessofthegardens(whichhaveavocabularyoftheirown),thefacesofthesequaintmothersareaclocktoyou,inwhichyoumayreadtheagesoftheiryoung.Whenheisthreetheyaresaidtoweartheknickerbockerface,andyoumaytakeitfrommethatMaryassumedthatfacewithasigh;fainwouldshehavekeptherboyababylonger,butheinsistedonhisrights,andIencouragedhimthatImightnotchanotherpointagainsther.