Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-10-06

parts Ill the lie Oh DdVlu OIuly.
His mother first - not exactly an
ingenue, even though she was lovely enough
to be silly enough to be an ingenue. His
mother was never silly. She was clear alike
in vision and intention.
His father next? No. Nanny; for David
and Nanny shared room, and those with
whom rooms are shared occupy most of the
horizon. Nanny is a confused memory of
kindness and pigheadedness, mixed up with
the pushing end of pram, bib tapes, toy
cupboards, cups of tea and putting things
away. But, however great the importance of
nanny, it is only matter of time before she
herself is put away into the nursery of some
other little boy or girl and thence into forget
fitness.
Now opens the door on David's father 1t
shuts much too soon; for he was man con-
demned having German bullet lodged in his
spine. For him there was no Armistice - and
he knew it.
Last comes Colin Anderson - Andy for
short - staunch friend of David's father and
mother Nanny did not like him, so David
did not like him, for small boy sees largely
through the eyes of his nurse She did not
approve of the adventurous tales Andy told.
Children were better without such nonsense.
David would have welcomed the stories but
for the knowledge that Nanny's sniff would
be at the back of them, and that she would be
cross for half an hour after that Mr. Ander-
son. had stridden from the nursery. 1t was
Nanny who planted in Davids mind the seeds
of an unreasoning hatred for thoroughly
we'll meaning member of society.
David was seven years old when his small
world was toppled over. A Harley Street
physician said that Philip would not live
another month.
Andy suggested that David should stop
with him until it was all over. But Vera shook
her head. II don't think it would work.
Andy. I'm not sure David really likes you"
He looked hurt, and she went on: Children
are funny in their likes and dislikes. He'll
probably change The thing is what's best to
do now. The master of the day school that
David is attending says can send him there
as boarder. He might like that; he's so keen
to grow up OF course it's too soon, really, and
Nanny will have to 60 - and the house.
couldn't keep the house afterwards; it's too
big"
Andy said: II might talk to the kid - put
a bit of buck into the idea"
"M'yes You won't overdo it?"
But Andy did overdo it. His enthusiasm
made David suspicious. The final words were
calamity. Besides, old man, you want to
make your mother happy. don't your"
Vera had not said word about it making
her happy to get rid of him. David went a
dull red. for he did not want to make her
happy in that way. Besides, how did Andy
know that his absence would make her happy?
He tried to imagine her saying it: ''How
happy Id be if David wasn't here" Put into
words it was frightful.
David stuck his head in the toy cupboard.
Not for anything would he cry while that
Andy was in the room.
In less than the month Philip left the stage
Before dying he laid a charge on Andy: keep
an eye on that youngster of mine and Vera"
Small blame to Andy if his willingness
took on the character of a crusade.
Two weeks after his fathers death David
walked into the room where Vera was packing
books to 60 into storage. She heard quick
breathing and saw him in the doorway looking
red and desperate. She guessed at once that
he had run away from school, but her "Huo
darling was quite normal.
David hung on to the door handle breath
bo.