n when the chap has
got up to talk I've gone into the writing-room or to the French class."

"Will you tell me about it?" asked the Scotchman.

Tom gave him a full description.

"You see," he said, "it's not like Sunday School, or anything of that
sort. There's lots of folks what can sing, and play the piano very
well, and can recite champion. And they give us a good concert every
night. Then there's a room where we can go in and read papers, write
letters, or play draughts or bagatelle and all that sort of thing.
Then there's a good library where you can get any book for the asking.
Ay, those religious folks have been kind; they have sent hundreds of
books for us chaps to read, good books and all. Then there's a
class-room where you can learn French."

"And will there be a bar where you can get some whisky?" asked the
Scotchman.

"Nay," replied Tom, "there's no whisky or owt o' that sort, but there's
a refreshment bar where you can get tea and coffee, and tarts, and
sandwiches."

"For nothing?" asked the Scotchman eagerly.

"Nay, not for nothing, but cheaper than you can buy it at any shop.
From what I can hear they sell it at just cost price."

"And," said the Scotchman, "do you mean, Tom, that you will give up the
evenings we used to have, for that sort of thing?"

"I don't say I've turned teetotaler," replied Tom, "although I have
took nothing sin'--sin' I were--disgraced, and I doan't mean to for a
bit. You see, the chaps at the Y.M.C.A. doan't tell you not to go to
the public-houses and then provide nothing better for you. Anyhow,
I've been to the Y.M.C.A. every night sin' I had my punishment, and
what's more, I'm going again."

A week later there was great excitement amongst the soldiers. They had
now been nearly four months in this Lancashire town, and orders came
for the Loyal North Lancashires and the Black Watch to move south.
They heard that they were going to Surrey, and were to be situated at a
camp in the most beautiful part of that county. Tom was delighted, for
although he had made many friends at the Y.M.C.A and grown to know many
people in this Lancashire town, the thought of a change appealed to him
strongly. He was young, and longed for new associations and new
surroundings. Besides, it meant a step nearer towards his desires. He
was told that his battalion was to be moved to Surrey preparatory to
orders for the Front. Possibly they might be moved to Salisbury Plain
or Shore