nd me, Derry."

Even Nurse was to stay behind. "We'll have them all to ourselves."

Derry was dubious, a little hurt. "It seems rather queer, doesn't it, on
our last day?"

"I--I think I should like it better than anything else, Derry."

And so they went.

It was warm with a hint of showers in the air, and both of the children
were in white. Jean was also in white. They rode in the General's
limousine to where the big tent with all its flags flying covered a vast
space.

"Cousin Derry, Mother said I might have some peanuts."

"All right, old man."

"And Margaret-Mary mustn't. But there are some crackers in a bag."

It was all most entrancing, the gilded wagons, the restless beasts behind
their bars, the spotted ponies, the swaying elephants, the bands playing,
the crowds streaming--.

Teddy held tight to Jean's hand. Margaret-Mary was carried high on
Derry's shoulder. All of her curls were bobbing, and her eyes were
shining. Now and then she dropped a light kiss on the silver blond hair
of her cavalier.

"Tousin Dee," she murmured, affectionately.

"She's an adorable kiddie," Derry told Jean as they found their seats.

"Cousin Derry," Teddy reminded him, "don't forget the peanuts."

And now the trumpets blared and the drums boomed, and the great parade
writhed like a glittering serpent around the huge circle, then broke up
into various groups as the performance began in the rings.

After that one needed all of one's eyes. Teddy sat spellbound for a
while, but found time at last to draw a long breath. "Cousin Derry, that
is the funniest clown--"

"The little one?"

"The big one; oh, well, the little one, too."

Silence again while the elephants did amazing things in one ring, with
Japanese tumblers in another, with piebald ponies beyond, and things
being done on trapezes everywhere.

Teddy slipped his hand into Derry's. "It's--it's almost like having
Daddy," he confided. "I know he's glad I'm here."

Derry's big hand closed over the small one. "I'm glad, too, old chap."

Margaret-Mary having gazed her fill, slept comfortably in Jean's arms.

"Let me hold her," Derry said.

Jean shook her head. "I love to have her here."

She had taken off her hat, and as she bent above the child her hair made
a halo of gold. In the midst of all the tawdriness she was a still and
sacred figure--a Madonna with a child.

Teddy, when he reached home, told the General all about it.

"It was be-y