As young Havlan was a year his senior, a trained infant prodigy, and destined for the Prize Ring, there was plenty for him to learn and to do.
With foil or sabre the boy was beneath Dam's contempt.
Daily the children were in Sergeant Havlan's charge for riding and physical drill, Dam getting an extra hour in the evening for the more manly and specialized pursuits suitable to his riper years.
He and Lucille loved it all, and the Haddock bitterly loathed it.
Until Miss Smellie came Dam was a happy boy--but for queer sudden spasms of terror of Something unknown; and, after her arrival, he would have been well content could he have been assured of an early opportunity of attending her obsequies and certain of a long-postponed resurrection; well content, and often wildly happy (with Lucille) ...
but for the curious undefinable fear of Something ...

Something about which he had the most awful dreams ...

Something in a blue room with a mud floor.

Something that seemed at times to move beneath his foot, making his blood freeze, his knees smite together, the sunlight turn to darkness.....