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