could and would eat anything at any time, but something younger than
his years led him--often in semi-secrecy--to candy-stores and soda-water
fountains and ice-cream parlors; he still relished green apples and knew
cravings for other dangerous inedibles. But these survivals were far
from painful to him; what injured his sensibilities was the disposition
on the part of people especially his parents, and frequently his aunts
and uncles--to regard him as a little boy. Briefly, the deference his
soul demanded in its own right, not from strangers only, but from
his family, was about that which is supposed to be shown a Grand Duke
visiting his Estates. Therefore William suffered often.

But the full ignominy of the task his own mother had set him this
afternoon was not realized until he and Genesis set forth upon the
return journey from the second-hand shop, bearing the two wash-tubs, a
clothes-wringer (which Mrs. Baxter had forgotten to mention), and the
tin boiler--and followed by the lowly Clematis.

V

SORROWS WITHIN A BOILER

There was something really pageant-like about the little excursion now,
and the glittering clothes-boiler, borne on high, sent flashing lights
far down the street. The wash-tubs were old-fashioned, of wood; they
refused to fit one within the other; so William, with his right hand,
and Genesis, with his left, carried one of the tubs between them;
Genesis carried the heavy wringer with his right hand, and he had
fastened the other tub upon his back by means of a bit of rope which
passed over his shoulder; thus the tin boiler, being a lighter burden,
fell to William.

The cover would not stay in place, but continually fell off when he
essayed to carry the boiler by one of its handles, and he made shift
to manage the accursed thing in various ways--the only one proving
physically endurable being, unfortunately, the most grotesque. He
was forced to carry the cover in his left hand and to place his head
partially within the boiler itself, and to support it--tilted obliquely
to rest upon his shoulders--as a kind of monstrous tin cowl or helmet.
This had the advantage of somewhat concealing his face, though when
he leaned his head back, in order to obtain clearer vision of what was
before him, the boiler slid off and fell to the pavement with a noise
that nearly caused a runaway, and brought the hot-cheeked William much
derisory attention from a passing street-car. However, he presently
caught