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