Michael spent the rest of the day in asking questions of Miss Carthew
about General Mace, and scarcely slept that night for fear he might be
late. At nine o'clock, Michael set out from the lodgings and ran all the
way to the General's house on the Leas, and walked about and fidgeted
and fretted himself until the clock struck the first chime of ten, when
he rang the bell and was shown upstairs and was standing on the
General's hearthrug before the echo of the last chime had died away.

The General cleared his throat and after saluting Michael suggested a
walk. Proudly Michael walked beside this tall old soldier up and down
the Leas. He was told tales of the Mutiny; he learned the various ranks
of the British Army from Lance-corporal to Field-marshal; he agreed at
the General's suggestion to aim at a commission in the Bengal Cavalry,
preferably in a regiment which wore an uniform of canary-yellow. Every
morning Michael walked about Folkestone with General Mace, and one
morning they turned into a toy-shop where Michael was told to choose two
boxes of soldiers. Michael at first chose a box of Highlanders doubling
fiercely with fixed bayonets and a stationary Highland Regimental Band,
each individual of which had a different instrument and actually a
music-stand as well. These two boxes together cost seven shillings, and
Michael was just leaving the shop when he saw a small penny box
containing twelve very tiny soldiers. Michael was in a quandary. For
seven shillings he would be able to buy eighty-four penny boxes, that is
to say one thousand and eight soldiers, whereas in the two boxes of
Highlanders already selected there were only twelve with bayonets,
twelve with instruments and twelve music-stands. It was really very
difficult to decide, and General Mace declined to make any suggestion as
to which would be the wiser choice, Michael was racked by indecision and
after a long debate chose the original two boxes and played with his
Highlanders for several years to come.

"Quite right," said the General when they reached the sunlight from the
dusty little toy-shop. "Quite right. Quality before quantity, sir. I'm
glad to see you have so much common sense."

Almost before the holidays seemed to have begun, the holidays were over.
There was a short and melancholy day of packing up, and a farewell visit
through the rain to General Mace. He and Michael sat for a while in his
room, while they talked earnestly of the Indian Army