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Irene's wings （so to speak） by taking her to a dentist。
And David did some adorable things。 For instance； he used my
pockets as receptacles into which he put any article he might not
happen to want at the moment。 He shoved it in； quite as if they
were his own pockets； without saying； By your leave； and perhaps
I discovered it on reaching homea tin…soldier； or a pistolwhen
I put it on my mantleshelf and sighed。 And here is another
pleasant memory。 One day I had been over…friendly to another
boy； and； after enduring it for some time David up and struck
him。 It was exactly as Porthos does； when I favour other dogs
（he knocks them down with his foot and stands over them； looking
very noble and stern）； so I knew its meaning at once； it was
David's first public intimation that he knew I belonged to him。
Irene scolded him for striking that boy； and made him stand in
disgrace at the corner of a seat in the Broad Walk。 The seat at
the corner of which David stood suffering for love of me； is the
one nearest to the Round Pond to persons coming from the north。
You may be sure that she and I had words over this fiendish
cruelty。 When next we met I treated her as one who no longer
existed； and at first she bridled and then was depressed； and as
I was going away she burst into tears。 She cried because neither
at meeting nor parting had I lifted my hat to her； a foolish
custom of mine； of which； as I now learned to my surprise； she
was very proud。 She and I still have our tiffs； but I have never
since then forgotten to lift my hat to Irene。 I also made her
promise to bow to me； at which she affected to scoff； saying I
was taking my fun of her； but she was really pleased； and I tell
you； Irene has one of the prettiest and most touching little bows
imaginable； it is half to the side （if I may so express myself）；
which has always been my favourite bow； and； I doubt not； she
acquired it by watching Mary。
I should be sorry to have it thought； as you may now be thinking；
that I look on children as on puppy…dogs； who care only for play。
Perhaps that was my idea when first I tried to lure David to my
unaccustomed arms； and even for some time after； for if I am to
be candid； I must own that until he was three years old I sought
merely to amuse him。 God forgive me； but I had only one day a
week in which to capture him； and I was very raw at the business。
I was about to say that David opened my eyes to the folly of it；
but really I think this was Irene's doing。 Watching her with
children I learned that partial as they are to fun they are moved
almost more profoundly by moral excellence。 So fond of babes was
this little mother that she had always room near her for one
more； and often have I seen her in the Gardens； the centre of a
dozen mites who gazed awestruck at her while she told them
severely how little ladies and gentlemen behave。 They were
children of the well…to…pass； and she was from Drury Lane； but
they believed in her as the greatest of all authorities on little
ladies and gentlemen； and the more they heard of how these
romantic creatures keep themselves tidy and avoid pools and wait
till they come to a gate； the more they admired them； though
their faces showed how profoundly they felt that to be little
ladies and gentlemen was not for them。 You can't think what
hopeless little faces they were。
Children are not at all like puppies； I have said。 But do
puppies care only for play？ That wistful look； which the
merriest of them sometimes wear； I wonder whether it means that
they would like to hear about the good puppies？
As you shall see； I invented many stories for David； practising
the telling of them by my fireside as if they were conjuring
feats； while Irene knew only one； but she told it as never has
any other fairy…tale been told in my hearing。 It was the
prettiest of them all； and was recited by the heroine。
〃Why were the king and queen not at home？〃 David would ask her
breathlessly。
〃I suppose；〃 said Irene； thinking it out； 〃they was away buying
the victuals。〃
She always told the story gazing into vacancy； so that David
thought it was really happening somewhere up the Broad Walk； and
when she came to its great moments her little bosom heaved。
Never shall I forget the concentrated scorn with which the prince
said to the sisters； 〃Neither of you ain't the one what wore the
glass slipper。〃
〃And thenand thenand then；〃 said Irene； not artistically to
increase the suspense； but because it was all so glorious to her。
〃Tell metell me quick；〃 cried David； though he knew the tale by
heart。
〃She sits down like；〃 said Irene； trembling in second…sight； 〃and
she tries on the glass slipper； and it fits her to a T； and then
the prince； he cries in a ringing voice； 'This here is my true
love； Cinderella； what now I makes my lawful wedded wife。'〃
Then she would come out of her dream； and look round at the
grandees of the Gardens with an extraordinary elation。 〃Her； as
was only a kitchen drudge；〃 she would say in a strange soft voice
and with shining eyes； 〃but was true and faithful in word and
deed； such was her reward。〃
I am sure that had the fairy godmother appeared just then and
touched Irene with her wand； David would have been interested
rather than astonished。 As for myself； I believe I have
surprised this little girl's secret。 She knows there are no
fairy godmothers nowadays； but she hopes that if she is always
true and faithful she may some day turn into a lady in word and
deed； like the mistress whom she adores。
It is a dead secret； a Drury Lane child's romance； but what an
amount of heavy artillery will be brought to bear against it in
this sad London of ours。 Not much chance for her； I suppose。
Good luck to you； Irene。
XIII
The Grand Tour of the Gardens
You must see for yourselves that it will be difficult to follow
our adventures unless you are familiar with the Kensington
Gardens； as they now became known to David。 They are in London；
where the King lives； and you go to them every day unless you are
looking decidedly flushed； but no one has ever been in the whole
of the Gardens； because it is so soon time to turn back。 The
reason it is soon time to turn back is that you sleep from twelve
to one。 If your mother was not so sure that you sleep from
twelve to one； you could most likely see the whole of them。
The Gardens are bounded on one side by a never…ending line of
omnibuses； over which Irene has such authority that if she holds
up her finger to any one of them it stops immediately。 She then
crosses with you in safety to the other side。 There are more
gates to the Gardens than one gate； but that is the one you go in
at； and before you go in you speak to the lady with the balloons；
who sits just outside。 This is as near to being inside as she
may venture； because； if she were to let go her hol