was a dear, which was
most pleasant.

He was hungry and the roast mutton was very good, moreover he was going
to the Zoo that afternoon directly after lunch, grannie's French maid
was to take him. They were to have a taxi from Charing Cross, and
lunch passed pleasantly, enlivened by the discussion of this enchanting
plan.

Presently he asked, apropos of nothing: "Do all the Ram-Corps officers
look like angels?"

"Like angels!" Mrs Grantly repeated derisively. "Good gracious, no!
Very plain indeed, some of them I've seen."

"The one at the Cadet Hospital does," Ger said positively, "like a
great big angel and a dear."

"Who? Major Murray?" Mrs Grantly inquired, looking puzzled; "where
have you seen him?"

But at this very moment someone came to tell Ger it was time to get
ready, and in the fuss and excitement of seeing him off, his grannie
forgot all about the Ram Corps and its angelic attributes.

It was her day. Guest after guest arrived, and she was pretty tired by
the time she had given tea to some five and twenty people.

The General never came in at all till the last guest had gone. Then he
sought his wife, and standing on the hearth-rug with his back to the
fire he told her that Major Murray had been to see him, and had
recounted Ger's visit of the morning, and the result of his
investigations.

Mrs Grantly, which was unusual, never interrupted once.

"So you can understand," the General concluded, "I didn't feel like
facing a lot of people."

"I shall write at once to Margie," Mrs Grantly cried breathlessly, "and
tell her she is a fool."

"I wouldn't do that," the General said gently; "poor Margie, she has a
good deal on her shoulders."

"All the same--do you remember that that unfortunate child has been
punished--punished because he was considered idle and obstinate over
his lessons . . . punished . . . little Ger--friendly, jolly little
Ger . . . I can't bear it," and Mrs Grantly burst into tears.

The General looked very much as though he would like to cry too. "It's
an unfortunate business," he said huskily, "but you see, none of us
have ever had any eye trouble, and the other children have all such
good sight . . . it never occurred to me . . . I must confess . . . of
course it can be put right very easily; you're to take him to the
oculist to-morrow; I've telephoned and made the appointment."

Mrs Grantly dried her eyes.

"We're all to blame," she exclaimed, "I'm just as much to