stole his sister's illness
badge and wore it when he was expelled for a day. HE got expelled for a
week for that. It must be awful not to go to school for a week.'

'Do you LIKE school, then?' asked Robert incredulously.

'Of course I do. It's the loveliest place there is. I chose railways for
my special subject this year, there are such splendid models and things,
and now I shall be all behind because of that torn-up paper.'

'You choose your own subject?' asked Cyril.

'Yes, of course. Where DID you come from? Don't you know ANYTHING?'

'No,' said Jane definitely; 'so you'd better tell us.'

'Well, on Midsummer Day school breaks up and everything's decorated with
flowers, and you choose your special subject for next year. Of course
you have to stick to it for a year at least. Then there are all your
other subjects, of course, reading, and painting, and the rules of
Citizenship.'

'Good gracious!' said Anthea.

'Look here,' said the child, jumping up, 'it's nearly four. The
expelledness only lasts till then. Come home with me. Mother will tell
you all about everything.'

'Will your mother like you taking home strange children?' asked Anthea.

'I don't understand,' said the child, settling his leather belt over his
honey-coloured smock and stepping out with hard little bare feet. 'Come
on.'

So they went.

The streets were wide and hard and very clean. There were no horses, but
a sort of motor carriage that made no noise. The Thames flowed between
green banks, and there were trees at the edge, and people sat under
them, fishing, for the stream was clear as crystal. Everywhere there
were green trees and there was no smoke. The houses were set in what
seemed like one green garden.

The little boy brought them to a house, and at the window was a good,
bright mother-face. The little boy rushed in, and through the window
they could see him hugging his mother, then his eager lips moving and
his quick hands pointing.

A lady in soft green clothes came out, spoke kindly to them, and took
them into the oddest house they had ever seen. It was very bare, there
were no ornaments, and yet every single thing was beautiful, from
the dresser with its rows of bright china, to the thick squares of
Eastern-looking carpet on the floors. I can't describe that house; I
haven't the time. And I haven't heart either, when I think how different
it was from our houses. The lady took them all over it. The oddest thing
of all was