YOUNG LIVES 15 



merit in his voice, and the child's eyes are alter- 

 nately fascinated by the lady he is addressing and 

 many objects of interest that are before him. The 

 Dutch tiles, representing blue ships, a perfect 

 Armada of sailing-vessels of every shape and date, 

 that surround the fireplace ; then again the plaster- 

 work above upon the wall, where a semee of 

 fuchsias, honeysuckle, and other favourite flower 

 emblems show that this is the entrance to the 

 very heart of the Garden School — all to him are 

 wonderful. What the little fellow longs to look 

 at most is the tiny model lighthouse, carved in 

 ivory, that stands upon the marble shelf, which, 

 being the skilled work of Nelson's flag-lieutenant, 

 gives real meaning to the name of " The Captain's 

 Cabin " by which the room is known. 



" Come for orders sharp at 8.30 on Saturday 

 morning, Victor," and with a yet more effusive 

 salute than the first one, the boy with the name of 

 good omen vanishes into space, his footsteps alone 

 betraying, as he scurries through the carpet of 

 golden leaves, that he is just a little village boy, 

 breathlessly running home to tell mother all he 

 has seen in the new War Department that he has 

 been appointed to serve. 



But this is not the only young life that has joined 

 our colony. A small white smooth-haired terrier, 

 " Timothy " by name, fresh to his work, being a 

 mere puppy, but, officious like all " new brooms,' 

 is employed usually upon outpost duty. His idea 

 at the moment is to hide a bone in a remote corner 

 somewhere near the entrance to the Captain's 

 Cabin, but conscience, a haunter even of puppies, 

 3 



