"Not a dog?" exclaimed Jims.
"Yes—a dear little bull pup. He shall be your very own, Jims, and I only stipulate that you reconcile the Black Prince to him."
It was something of a task but Jims succeeded. Then followed a month of perfect happiness. At least three afternoons a week they contrived to be together. It was all too good to be true, Jims felt. Something would happen soon to spoil it. Just suppose Aunt Augusta grew tender-hearted and ceased to punish! Or suppose she suddenly discovered that he was growing too big to be shut up! Jims began to stint himself in eating lest he grew too fast. And then Aunt Augusta worried about his loss of appetite and suggested to Uncle Walter that he should be sent to the country till the hot weather was over. Jims didn't want to go to the country now because his heart was elsewhere. He must eat again, if he grew like a weed. It was all very harassing.
Uncle Walter looked at him keenly.
"It seems to me you're looking pretty fit, Jims. Do you want to go to the country?"
"No, please."
"Are you happy, Jims?"
"Sometimes."
"A boy should be happy all the time, Jims."
"If I had a mother and someone to play with I would be."