in'--well, like what you
see. _I_ think it becomin', on the whole. He tells me his motto is
'Be British,' an' he has to do a kind action every day of his life:
which he won't find easy, in a little place like Polpier."

As 'Beida drew breath, the boy faced Nicky-Nan half sulkily.

"They put me into this outfit. I didn't _ask_ for it."

"If you want my opinion, 'Bert," said Nicky-Nan, "it suits 'ee very
well; an' you look two inches taller in it already."

He hurried on in the direction of Boatbuilder Jago's yard, which
stands close above the foreshore, on the eastern side of the little
haven. When he returned, with the boards under his arm, it was to
find 'Bert the centre of a knot of boys, all envious--though two or
three were making brave attempts to hide it under a fire of jocose
criticism. It was plain, however, that morally 'Bert held the upper
hand. Whilst they had been playing silly games around the Quay, he
had walked to St Martin's and done the real thing. No amount of
chaff could hide that his had been the glory of the initiative.
Indeed, he showed less of annoyance with his critics than of boredom
with 'Biades, who, whichever way his big brother turned, revolved
punctually as a satellite, never relaxing his rapt, upward gaze of
idolatry.

"You can shut your heads, the whole lot," said 'Bert airily. "First
thing to-morrow mornin' the half of 'ee'll be startin' over for
St Martin's to enlist; an' you know it. Better fit you went off home
and asked your dear mammies to put 'ee to bed early. Because there's
not only the walk to St Martin's an' back--which is six mile--but
when you've passed the doctor for bandy legs or weak eyesight, you
may be started on duty that very night. I ben't allowed to say more
just now," he added with a fine air of official reticence. "And as
for _you_"--he turned impatiently on 'Biades--"I wish you'd find your
sister, to fetch an' shut 'ee away somewhere. Where's 'Beida _to?_"

"She's breakin' the news to mother," answered 'Biades.

By seven o'clock Nicky-Nan had measured and cut his boards to size.
He fitted them loosely to floor the bedroom cupboard. Later on he
would fix them securely in place with screws. But by this time
daylight was dusking in, and more urgent business called him.

Returning to the parlour downstairs, he refilled his pockets with the
gold of which he had lightened himself for his carpentry, knotted
another twenty sovereigns tightly i