, Teddy
stole out to the woods. When out of sight he began a brisk conversation
with himself, as was his wont; and it may give us an insight into his
busy brain if we listen.

'Blackey might do, or Goggles, or Grubby, or Nigger, or Toad. I want to
have some name, else I shan't be able to talk to him so well. I wish
mother had helped me; it's very differcult. I can't seem to think of a
name quite ugly enough. I expect p'raps Mr. Upton could tell me. I'll
wait and ask him. I hope I shan't have to wait long, for I want it all
settled, so that I can begin to fight properly with him. Now I've got to
find Nancy. Mr. Upton said I was to be friends with her, and I've got to
hold up my banner of love over her. I hope she'll like it. She's a
horrid--Aha, that's my enemy just going to speak! A horrid girl, you
were going to say, were you? Now you just get out. Nancy is a very nice
girl--at least, she soon will be. I'll try and think her nice, I will.
I've got to fight you, enemy, if you say such things. Why, I do 'clare,
there she is climbing that tree!'

Teddy's conversation came to an end, and he stared with open mouth and
eyes at the nimble way Nancy was climbing up an old beech-tree. He gave a
shrill whistle, which made the little girl look round. Not a bit
disconcerted was she.

'Aha, it's the stupid little button-boy. You can't catch me!'

It was a challenge. Instantly Teddy stripped off his jacket, and darted
to the tree. She had got a good start, and even he caught his breath in
wonder at her rapid ascent, and the fearless way in which she seemed to
plant her small feet on the most fragile-looking branches. Up they
went, panting with the exercise; but at length she could go no further,
and seating herself on a comfortable bough she looked mischievously
down at him.

'You couldn't catch me; you don't know how to climb! My father taught me.
I can go up the rigging as far as any sailor boy, and this is my ship,
but I'll let you sit down by me if you behave yourself.'

Teddy swung himself across a bough opposite her, and was silent for a
moment. Each child was trying to recover breath, and Teddy was
considering how to make peace. He did it in his own quaint fashion.

'I think we're pretty close to heaven,' he remarked presently, lifting
his soft blue eyes to the clear sky above. 'I wonder if that's the reason
birds in their nests agree? The angels can't like to hear quallering so
close to them.'

'I'm not going to qu