An Interloper

           DavidandIhadatremendousadventure.Itwasthis,hepassedthenightwithme.Wehadoftentalkedofitasapossiblething,andatlastMaryconsentedtoourhavingit.

           TheadventurebeganwithDavid’scomingtomeattheunwontedhourofsixP.M.,carryingwhatlookedlikeapacketofsandwiches,butprovedtobehisrequisitesforthenightdoneupinaneatpaperparcel.Wewerebothsoexcitedthat,atthemomentofgreeting,neitherofuscouldbeappositetotheoccasioninwords,sowecommunicatedourfeelingsbysigns;asthus,Davidhalfsatdowninaplacewheretherewasnochair,whichishisfavouritepreparationforbeingemphatic,andisborrowed,Ithink,fromthefrogs,andwethenmadetheextraordinaryfaceswhichmean,“Whatatremendousadventure!”

           Weweretodoalltheimportantthingspreciselyastheyaredoneeveryeveningathisownhome,andsoIaminapuzzletoknowhowitwassuchanadventuretoDavid.ButIhavenowsaidenoughtoshowyouwhatanadventureitwastome.

           Foralittlewhileweplayedwithmytwomedals,and,withthedelicacyofasleepingcompanion,DavidabstainedonthisoccasionfromaskingwhyoneofthemwasnotaVictoriaCross.HeisverytroubledbecauseIneverwontheVictoriaCross,foritlowershisstatusintheGardens.HeneversaysintheGardensthatIwonit,buthefightsanyboyofhisyearwhosaysIdidn’t.Theirfightingconsistsofchallengingeachother.

           Attwenty-fivepastsixIturnedonthehotwaterinthebath,andcovertlyswallowedasmallglassofbrandy.Ithensaid,“Half-pastsix;timeforlittleboystobeinbed.