"When I leave, Mary, I'll give Aladdin to you."
"Oh, George, Aladdin!"
Up came the tear-stained face, dimpling with joy and surprise.
"Yes, Aladdin. And whenever you ride him, it will be just as nice as playing with me, won't it now?"
"Oh, yes," she assented graciously.
"And, Mary," went on the boy earnestly, the while something tugged hard at his heart and threatened too to strangle him, "let's promise that all our lives you'll like me better than anybody else in the world, and I'll like you better than anybody else in the world."
"Let's!" she agreed; and George took her brown little hand in his, and pressed it to his lips, in such fashion as he had read that the gallant Gordons greeted the ladies of their clan.
The following day came a letter with an impressive yellow seal, confirming the fact of George's lordship.