she said. "As a matter of fact, even
before you left Beechfield, Dr. O'Farrell regarded the child as being in
some way abnormal."

"D'you mean while he was still a baby?" asked Radmore.

"Well, when he had just emerged from babyhood. But I doubt if anyone knew
it but Timmy's parents, the doctor, myself, and yes, I mustn't forget
Nanna. He was a very extraordinary little child. He spoke so very early,
you know."

"I do remember that."

"Unfortunately," went on Miss Pendarth, "it's difficult to know when
Timmy is telling the truth, or what he believes to be the truth, about
his gift. I think that often--and I know that Betty agrees with me--the
boy invents all kinds of fantastic tales in order to impress the people
about him."

"As far as I can make out," said Radmore slowly, "he's always told _me_
the truth."

"I'll tell you something curious that happened--let me see, about seven
years ago. You remember an old man we used to call Gaffer John? He had
Wood Cottage, and lived in a very comfortable sort of way."

"Of course I remember Gaffer John! He was well over ninety when I left
Beechfield, and he had been valet years ago to one of Queen Victoria's
cousins."

"Yes, that's the man I mean. At last he was found dead in his chair. He
had what was by way of being rather a grand funeral. Timmy, for some
reason or other (I think he had a cold), wasn't allowed to attend the
funeral, and as he was set on seeing it, Janet said that he might come
and see it from one of my windows. Well, after the funeral was over, he
stayed on with me for a few minutes, and suddenly he exclaimed: 'Gaffer
John isn't dead at all, Miss Pendarth.' I naturally answered, 'Of course
he is, Timmy. Why, we've just seen him buried.' And then he said: 'Don't
you see him walking out there, along the road, quite plainly? He's behind
an old gentleman dressed up for a fancy ball.' Then, Godfrey, the child
went on to describe the kind of uniform which would have been worn
seventy years ago by a staff officer. I couldn't help being impressed, in
spite of myself, for I'd never given Timmy the slightest encouragement to
talk in that sort of way, and it's the only time he's ever done it, with
me."

"What does his mother really think of this queer power of his?" asked
Radmore. "I've never liked to talk to her about it."

"It's difficult to say. In some ways Janet Tosswill's a very reserved
woman. But I'll tell you another curious thing about the child."