hat was sufficient. The two perfectly
understood each other, and a minute after Teddy was perched on his knee.

'I'm wondering if I can't get an enemy!' the boy proceeded, folding his
small arms and looking up at his uncle steadily; 'all good people had
enemies in the Bible, and I haven't one, I should like to have a good
right down enemy!'

'To fight?' asked his uncle.

'To carry on with, you know; he would lay traps for me, and I would for
him, like David and Saul; we should have a fine time of it. And then
perhaps, if he did something dreadfully wrong, mother would give me leave
to fight him, just once in a way. Don't you think that would be nice?'

'Fightin' ain't the only grand thing in this world; peace is grander,'
was the slow response to this appeal.

'That's what mother says. She made me learn this morning--"Blessed are
the peacemakers!" but you must have an enemy to make peace with, and I
haven't got one.'

There was silence; the uncle puffed away at his pipe; he was a good man,
and had more brains than his appearance warranted, but Teddy's speeches
were often a sore puzzle to him. The boy continued in a slow, thoughtful
tone, 'I saw some one to-day that I feel might be an enemy, but she's a
girl; men don't fight with women.'

'I'd rather tackle a man than a woman any day. They be a powerful enemy
sometimes, lad! And what have this young maid done to you?'

'She said,'--and Teddy's eyes grew bright whilst the blood rushed into
his cheeks--'she said she didn't believe a word of father's story--not a
word of it! And she laughed, and walked away.'

'That was coming it strong; and who is she, to talk so?'

'She's a stranger; Sam said she's come to live with old Sol at the
turnpike.'

'That must be Grace's child,' said old Mrs. Platt, coming up and joining
in the conversation. 'I heard she was coming to stay with her father this
summer, and glad I am of it too--the old man is very lonely. I suppose
her husband is at sea again.'

'What is her husband?' inquired Teddy's mother, as with work in hand she
came out and took a seat in the old-fashioned porch.

'A sailor. Grace was always a roving nature herself. She never would
settle down quiet and take a husband from these parts. She was maid to
our squire's lady then, and went to foreign parts with her; but folks say
she's steadied down now wonderful. They've been living at Portsmouth, she
and her little girl.'

CHAPTER II

'When Greek Meets G