'I—I'm sure I doan't know. I can't remember the time when we was beaten.
I reckon she's sorry for them.'
'Doesn't she turn them out of her army?'
'Why, noa!'
'What does God do when His soldiers leave off fighting, and knock under to their enemy?'
'I reckon He's sorry too.'
Dimly Jake Platt began to see the drift of the child's questions. Teddy shook his curly head mournfully. 'I'm sure He'll have to turn soldiers out of His army if they give up fighting, and let the banner drag in the dust, and just let the enemy do what they like with them. Why, I've done worse than that!'—here he clenched his little fists and raised his voice excitedly—'I've gone with the enemy, I've joined Ipse, and that's being a deserter, and now I shan't never, never be able to get back again!'
His uncle looked sorely puzzled.
'Why ain't you at school? What have you been a'doin'?'
Teddy told him all in a despairing tone, adding,—
'I can't meet mother—I've been caned, and—and I've disgraced my button!'