SPARROW TREE SQUARE
WE will take the lady in green first. Her name is Diana Fitzpatrick Mauleverer James. She is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick Mauleverer James, who live at Number 27. Mrs. F. M. James wanted a boy, so that he could support them in their old age; but Mr. F. M. James said loftily: “No F. M. James, my dear, was ever any good at supporting. Where the F. M. Jameses shine is at being supported. Let it be a girl, and let her marry some very rich man when she grows up. It shall be his proud privilege to tend the last of the F. M. James’s in their middle-age.” So it was a girl.
Mrs. F. M. James was very fond of Diana, but she was fond of Mr. F. M. James, too, and a time came when she found that she couldn’t look after both of them; for it would happen sometimes that, when Diana wanted to play trains, Mr. F. M. James didn’t, or that when Mr. F. M. James did, then Diana had thought of some other game. So one day she said:
“I think, dear, we had better get Diana a nurse, and then I can devote myself entirely to you.”
“Certainly, my love, you should devote yourself entirely to me,” said Mr. F. M. James, “but I cannot allow a common nurse to look after Diana Fitzpatrick Mauleverer. The F. M. James’s have their pride.”
“Then who is to look after her?” asked Diana’s Mother.
“She must look after herself.”