"I thinks lots about you, Flank, in my bed and on the beach. I dont love the winter, I loves the summer, cause there is plenty flowers and no chilblains. I loves Daddy and Mammy Mop best, then Fred then Tippetty, then my dolly fishes, and then Flank last, but O Flank the last is a big big much.
"Your 'ffection' friend,
"Toddie Treasure-Trove."
Mrs. Fielding really was a good-hearted lady in the main, but purse-proud, and not over deep in mind.
She always spoke of Frank's little friends as "those poor children." This used to make Frank angry, though he loved his mother too much to show it. Well, Mrs. Fielding was also generous. She had proposed sending "those poor children" some clothes.
"Oh, mother, don't!" Frank had gasped, getting dreadfully red in the face.
Frank's father was reading the newspaper. He held it down for a minute to smile and say:
"Frank's right, mamma. It would be taken as a terrible insult. You forget that Eean Arundel is a gentleman though poor. My countrymen," he added, laughing, "are all gentlemen."
"Well," Mrs Fielding had replied, "I don't care much for pride in people who have nothing to keep it up with."
Young Frank was thoroughly roused now. He had to keep striding up and down across the floor to restrain his feelings.
"Mother," he said at last, "they have honesty."