C.B., meaning "Kan't-Come-Back." But
they preferred him as he was, plain C.B., because they did not want to
lose him. They declared that "Companion to the Bath" was just nonsense
invented by a Radical Government. For in politics, of course, they
followed their father's lead, and their father had _distinctly_ stated
more than once that "the policy of a Radical Government was some-
funny-word-or-other nonsense," which statement helped them enormously
in forming their own opinions on several other topics as well. In
personal disagreements, for instance--they never "squabbled"--the
final insult was to say, "My dear, you're as silly as a something-or-
other Radical Govunment," for there was no answer to this anywhere in
the world.
Come-Back Stumper, therefore, though casual outsiders might never have
guessed it, was a valuable ally. He was what Mother called "a
character" as well, and if the children used this statement in praise
of him, while adopting in their carelessness a revised version, "he
has no character," this was not Come-Back Stumper's fault. He was also
an "extinguished soldger," and had seen much service in foreign parts.
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