"How comfy," she whispered shyly. "How soft you are. Auntie never holds me in her arms, and when Nannie does she's always full of bits of things that stick out."
And then with a little scream of delight she was away, speeding over the gravel in the wake of a lumbering great form wending its way in and out of the crowd.
"Cut along, Sir, or you'll find her 'obnobbing with the gorilla next!
I've never seen such a child for downright mischievousness."
Cuxson cut along as bidden and for all he was worth, pulling Leonie up in front of the ticket office for elephant rides, and after purchasing tickets sidetracked her to a tea-table.
* * * * * * * *
"Mind you bring Jingles when you come to stay!"
"Pwomise," called back Leonie from her Nannie's arms as she opened the door to them and lifted the tired happy child from the taxi.
But she didn't because she never went.
CHAPTER VIII
"And make my seated heart knock at my ribs
Against the use of nature. Present fears
Are less than horrible imaginings."—Shakespeare.