IX.
"Mother," said Tommy with exceeding great frankness, "I love Lord Reggie."
"My dear boy," Lady Locke said, "what a sudden affection! Why, to-day is only Friday, and you never met him until Wednesday. That is quick work."
"It's very easy," answered Tommy. "It doesn't take any time. Why should it?"
"Well, we generally get to like people very much gradually. We find out what they are by degrees, and consider whether they are worth caring for."
"I don't," said Tommy. "Directly he came to play at ball with me I loved him. Why shouldn't I?"
"Tommy, you are very direct," his mother cried, laughing. "Now you have finished breakfast, run out into the garden. I heard Mr. Smith's boys just now. I expect they are in the paddock."
"Athanasius doesn't play cricket badly," Tommy remarked meditatively, "only he
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