WONDERING TOM 119

“Whatever in all this world can his Majesty want with
me?” pondered the bewildered boy, moving very slowly
toward the monarch.

“Well, sir!” said his Majesty, scowling. “So you are
here at last! Why do they call you Wondering Tom?”

“Mr, your Majesty?” faltered Tom. “I—I—don’t
know.”

“You don’t know? (Most remarkable boy, this!) And
what were you doing, sir, when we sent for you ?”

“Nothing, your Majesty. I was only wondering
whether —”

“Ah, I see. You take your life out in wondering, A
fine, strong fellow like you has no right to be idling in his
mother’s doorway. A pretty kingdom we should have if
all our subjects were like this! You may go. -

“He has a good face,” continued the King, turning to the
Prime Minister, “ but he ll never amount to anything.”

“Ah, exactly so,” said the Prime Minister. “Exactly so,”
echoed the Lord of the Exchequer, and “ Exactly so,”
sighed the Chief-Cook-and-Bottle-Washer at last, as the
royal procession passed on.

Tom heard it all.

“ Now, how do they know that?” he muttered, seratch-
ing his head as he lounged back to the door-step. “Why in
the world do they think I ‘ll never amount to anything ?”

In the doorway he fell to thinking of little Wisk.

“What a very nice girl she is! I wonder if she ’d play
with me if I asked her,—but I can’t ask her. I do
wonder what makes me so afraid to talk to Wisk!”

Meantime, little Wisk, who lived in the next house,
watched him shyly.