"It isn't a new thing with Timmy," 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.
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