'Will you come and see my home?' the child asked softly. 'Corporal Saxby
told me he thought you would like to come.'

The man's face lightened. 'Ay, that I will, if it ain't fur off; my legs
are that stiff and sore. I don't want much walking.'

'It isn't very far.' Then, as they moved off together, Teddy slipped his
little hand confidingly into the big one near him, and continued, 'Do you
know there's going to be a splendid tea for you all in our schoolroom
to-night--have you heard?'

'Ay; the parson was round an hour ago giving out tickets. There's little
to be done in a place like this, and we're too tired to tramp into the
town; so I expect there'll be a tidy few.'

'The corporal came to tea at our house the other night. He's a friend of
yours, isn't he?'

'The best friend I've got,' was the hearty answer. 'Ay, lad, there's few
of his sort in the Army; for one that tries to help us on a bit there's
ten that tries to drag us down!'

'I suppose,' said Teddy dreamily, 'that, after all, the Queen's army
isn't so nice to be in as the army I belong to? Does your captain help
you when you're in trouble?'

'He helps us to pack-drill, or C. B., or cells!' replied Tim Stokes with
grim humour.

This needed to be explained to Teddy, who went on after it was made clear