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CHAPTER IV

THE YOUNG LIFE OF PAUL

PAUL would be built like his mother, slightly and rather
small. His fair hair went reddish, and then dark brown; his
eyes were grey. He was a pale, quiet child, with eyes that
seemed to listen, and with a full, dropping underlip.
As a rule he seemed old for his years. He was so con-
scious of what other people felt, particularly his mother.
When she fretted he understood, and could have no peace.
His soul seemed always attentive to her.
As he grew older he became stronger. William was too
far removed from him to accept him as a companion. So
the smaller boy belonged at first almost entirely to Annie.
She was a tomboy and a ‘flybie-skybie’, as her mother called
her. But she was intensely fond of her second brother. So
Paul was towed round at the heels of Annie, sharing her
game. She raced wildly at lerky with the other young wild-
cats of the Bottoms. And always Paul flew beside her, living
her share of the game, having as yet no part of his own. He
was quiet and not noticeable. But his sister adored him. He
always seemed to care for things if she wanted him to.
She had a big doll of which she was fearfully proud,

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