‘Walter Saxby,’ was the ready response.

’And what’s the name of the poor old soldier who signed the pledge on New Year’s Day?’

‘Tim Stokes; he’s called Bouncer by most of us.’

‘I shall remember,’ said Teddy; then turning to his mother and grandmother after Corporal Saxby had disappeared, he said solemnly, ’I may bring Bouncer to tea, mayn’t I, if I find him?  Corporal told me he hadn’t properly enlisted as Jesus’ soldier, but he wants to.  Do you think Mr. Upton could get him to enlist while he’s here?  Or could you, granny?  P’raps he’d do it for you.’

‘I don’t know what that boy will come to,’ said Mrs. Platt later on, when Teddy was safe in bed; ’seems to me he has more the making of a minister in him than a soldier.  I don’t hold with children being too religious; it’s forced and unnatural.’

‘He ain’t too good to live,’ put in Jake slowly; ’no youngster can beat him in play.’

‘I often wonder,’ Mrs. John said thoughtfully, ’whether he will be a soldier after all; he is almost too sensitive to lead the hard, rough life so many do.  I doubt if he could stand it.’

‘He’s not wanting in pluck and manliness,’ Mrs. Platt observed, for she always had a good word to say for her little grandson when he was not present.  ’I found him this morning careering round the field on that fresh young foal, without any saddle or bridle!  I gave him a sharp scolding, for it was kicking up its hind legs like mad; but he only looked up in my face and laughed.  “It’s my charger, granny,” he says, “and he smells the battle-field; that’s why he’s so excited!” I’m sorry these soldiers are going to fill the place; he thinks and talks quite enough of them as it is.  We shan’t have a moment’s peace now till they’re gone.’

Teddy was up very early the next morning to see his friend go off.  He had another long conversation with him before wishing him good-bye; and then, with thoughtful face, he went to school, revolving many plans in his active little brain, and making innumerable mistakes in his lessons in consequence.  At twelve o’clock, when free at last, he made his way to the rectory and asked for Mr. Upton, who greeted him very kindly.

‘Any more troubles to tell me?’

‘No, sir; but I want to tell you about the soldiers who are coming.’

‘I have heard about them.  It will be a grand time for you, won’t it?’

‘Please, sir, could you have a tea-party for them?’

Mr. Upton pushed up his glasses and looked very bewildered.

‘A tea-party, did you say?’

’Yes; the corporal said a clergyman gave one hundred tea in a schoolroom last year, and spoke to them after.  The corporal said it would keep them from drinking in the public-houses.  He came to tea with us last night; but granny won’t have a lot of them, so I told him I’d tell you about it.’

‘It’s rather an undertaking,’ said Mr. Upton musingly, ’but we might do something for them.  When are they to be here?’