to the kerbstone and held up my umbrella for a cab.



"'Ansoms," said Gip, in a note of culminating exultation.



I helped him in, recalled my address with an effort, and got in also.

Something unusual proclaimed itself in my tail-coat pocket, and

I felt and discovered a glass ball. With a petulant expression

I flung it into the street.



Gip said nothing.



For a space neither of us spoke.



"Dada!" said Gip, at last, "that WAS a proper shop!"



I came round with that to the problem of just how the whole thing

had seemed to him. He looked completely undamaged--so far, good;

he was neither scared nor unhinged, he was simply tremendously

satisfied with the afternoon's entertainment, and there in his arms

were the four parcels.



Confound it! what could be in them?



"Um!" I said. "Little boys can't go to shops like that every day."



He received this with his usual stoicism, and for a moment I was sorry

I was his father and not his mother, and so couldn't suddenly there,

coram publico, in our hansom, kiss him. After all, I thought,

the thing wasn't so very bad.



But it was only when we opened the parcels that I really began to be

reassured. Three of them contained boxes of soldiers, quite ordinary

lead soldiers, but of so good a quality as to make Gip altogether

forget that originally these parcels had been Magic Tricks of the only

genuine sort, and the fourth contained a kitten, a little living

white kitten, in excellent health and appetite and temper.



I saw this unpacking with a sort of provisional relief. I hung about

in the nursery for quite an unconscionable time. . . .



That happened six months ago. And now I am beginning to believe

it is all right. The kitten had only the magic natural to all kittens,

and the soldiers seem as steady a company as any colonel could

desire. And Gip--?



The intelligent parent will understand that I have to go cautiously

with Gip.



But I went so far as this one day. I said, "How would you like

your soldiers to come alive, Gip, and march about by themselves?"



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