"My boots?" said the Captain blankly. "My boots?"

"Wasn't it funny?" said the nurse. "I suppose he is so crazy
over you, boy-like, that he wanted to see your tall boots. Don't
you suppose so?"

"Probably," said the Captain. He put a hand over the side of the
bed, and felt to see if his boots were there. Then he grew so
quiet that the nurse slipped softly away, thinking him asleep.

When she had gone he did a strange thing. He took those boots,
dusty as they were and, placing them under the pillow, went to
sleep. But in the morning, although the nurse came in very
early, the boots were under the bed.

"If he comes in this morning, send him up here, won't you?" he
begged. "It would amuse me so; and I don't want to get up until
afternoon. I would be so charmed to meet that funny little boy.
My boots! How droll!"

About ten o'clock two boys strolled into the office and passed
the nurses' sitting-room. The dimply nurse seized on one of
them.

"I am so glad you have come!" she said.

"Captain DuChassis wants to see you. I told him how you came in
and asked for him yesterday."

She went on. "I can't go up for another hour; so you can both go