d him alive and all as belonged to him was killed
dead, why, he must belong to us. What do you say to keeping him?"

"Oh, Joe, if we only could!" cried his wife.

"Ah, if we on'y could," said Joe thoughtfully.

"I know," cried Mrs Corporal; "I'll ask the Colonel next time I take
him his washing back."

"You just don't," said Joe; "because if you do he'll say as you
mustn't."

"Oh!" sighed Mrs Corporal; "that's just what I'm 'fraid of."

They were very silent as they sat by the camp-fire that night in an
orange-grove, with the big stars peeping down at them, and Tom Jones,
who took a great interest in what was said, sat and waited for ever so
long, and then being tired out with the long day's tramp, lay down to
listen, and dropped off fast asleep, just as Joe Beane said
thoughtfully:--

"Look here, missus, if I was on'y a private instead of being an officer
I should say something, but as I am full corporal, why, I can't."

"Just think you are a private, Joe, and say it," whispered his wife.

"Shall I?" he said slowly.

"Yes, Joe, dear, do. He's such a nice boy."

"Ay, he is, missus."

"And I love him a'ready."

"Well, I won't go so far as love him, 'cause I don't like boys, but I
like him because he's such a good, happy-looking little chap, and how
anyone as calls himself a man could have--"

"Yes, yes, you've said that before, Joe," whispered his wife pettishly.
"Tell me what you'd say if you warn't a corporal."

"Why, I'd say nothing," said Joe.

"Oh, how can you be so stupid as to go on like that! I thought you'd
got something sensible in your head."

"So I have," said Joe gruffly, "on'y you're in such a hurry. I should
say nothing to nobody, and go on just as if he warn't here."

"Oh, Joe, dear, would you?"

"Yes, that's what I should say. We could manage right enough, and if at
last the Colonel should come with: `Hallo there! What boy's that?'--
why, we could tell him then, and if he said: `Send him away'--"

"Yes, and what then, Joe?" cried Mrs Corporal excitedly.

"Why then," said Joe, "we should have to obey orders."

"Ah, and he mightn't say that, Joe, as he's such a nice little fellow."

"Course, he mightn't," replied Joe.

"Hah!" ejaculated Mrs Corporal Beane, and she said no more. But at the
next halting-place she began to think: and the result of her thinking
was that she got hold of an old uniform suit and by working very hard
every time the regiment halted she contrived