BY L. ALLEN HARKER
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
THE VAGARIES
OF TOD AND PETER
THE VAGARIES
OF TOD AND PETER
BY
L. ALLEN HARKER
NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
1923
Copyright, 1923, by
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
Printed in the United States of America
Published September, 1923
TO
MARGARET GWENELIN WATSON
WITH LOVE AND HIGH HOPES FOR
HER FUTURE
FOREWORD
A small boy coming down to the drawing-roomat half-past five for the sacred hour of play, founda visitor absorbing his mother’s attention. Forfive minutes or so he politely refrained from interruptingtheir conversation, and he wandered aboutthe room, a little disconsolate perhaps, but in thatstate of being described by nurses as “not a bit oftrouble.” When, however, the five minutes lengthenedinto ten, he felt that direct action of some sortwas imperative. So he advanced upon the lingeringguest, laid small, imperative hands upon herknee; and lifting an anxious face to hers, enquiredin honeyed tones: “Is you going to stay very muchlonger?”
That was in the forgotten, by some regretted, bymany derided, nineties.
The other day I was having tea with a charmingfriend, wise mother of many sons, when theyoungest, aged two, came for the sacred hour. Itwas pleasant in that drawing-room and I made nohaste to go. Whereupon he came to me and, witha gracious, even a gallant, gesture, held out his handto me with the utmost friendliness, conversing thewhile perpetually and emphatically in a mannerdifficult for the uninitiated to follow. Pleased andflattered, I took the kind little hand, which pulledme to my feet. He then firmly led me to the doorand out to the top of the staircase, and was preparingto escort me downstairs and to the frontdoor, when his mother ran after us and fetched usback.
<