soon get into trouble. We ain't going to stand sauce from you.'

'What has the little lass been doing, you young scoundrels?'

'They're only boys, grandfather; let us come in to mother, and leave
them. They're the rudest boys I've ever seen, and the button-boy is the
worst, and his button isn't worth a farthing!'

There was a yell from all three boys at this.

'That's it!' cried Carrots excitedly. 'It's the button she's so cheeky
about. We ain't going to have Teddy's button laughed at. We won't stand
it, Sol--we won't!'

'It shows she don't know nothing, or she wouldn't talk so. She's just a
baby, that's what she is.'

'Why, she doesn't believe father's story is true, Sol! You know it is,
don't you?'

'She isn't as old as the button itself.'

'Ha! ha! she wasn't born when it was in battle. Much she knows about it!'

Sol had difficulty in quieting the indignant voices.

'Lookee here, you boys, go home and leave my little lass to me; she knows
nothing about the button. I'll tell her the story, and then she won't
laugh at it any more. Ay, I remember seeing your father, youngster. He
was a brave man, he was, but he would never have made war against little
maids like this. Shame on you; get you home! Get you gone, I say, or I'll
bring my stick out.'

'She's been told the story. She listened, and she laughed. She ought to
say she's sorry.'

Teddy stood with his legs wide apart, and his hands in his pockets. His
tone was severe.

'I'll never, never, never say I'm sorry. I'm glad of what I said. I don't
believe a word of it!'

And with this parting shot Nancy ran into the cottage, and the boys
returned to the village more slowly than they came.

'Mother,' said Teddy that night, as his mother bent down for a
'good-night' kiss, 'I haven't been good to-day, and I don't feel good
now. I feel, when I think it over, so angry inside.'

'What is it about, sonny?'

'Father's button.' The tone was drowsy, and seeing his eyelids droop
heavily Mrs. John said no more, only breathed a prayer that her little
son might fight as bravely for Christ's honour as he did for that of his
father's button.

CHAPTER III

A Recruiting Sergeant

It was Sunday morning. Along a sweet-scented lane, with shady limes
overhead and honeysuckle and wild roses growing in profusion on the
hedges at each side, walked Teddy's mother, holding her little son
tightly by the hand. The bells of the village church were ringing out for
th