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early in

tart, and the book she had been trying to

said Bob, laughing. "Poor o

getting a bit sleepy," his sist

wish it had made a struggle to be on time to-night; it would have been jolly

et down to t

not think it worth while to tell the tired little sister what another man had told him, that it was very doubtful whether they would be allowed to board any transport at night, and that Liverpool was so crowded that to find beds in it might be an impossibility. Bob refused to be depressed by the prospect. "If the

no porters at all. Bob piled their hand luggage on the platform, and left Cecilia

while I gather up the heavy luggage and find the transport officer. I'm afraid it's going to take some time, so don't get worried if I don't turn up ve

n either side that were constantly swinging to let people in or out; through them could be seen the hurrying throng of people on the station, rushing to and fro under the great electric lights, gathered round the bookstall

ately began to use the swinging glass doors as playthings to the imminent risk of their own necks, since they were too little to be noticed by anyone coming in or out, and were nearly knocked flat a dozen times by the swing of the doors. The weary mother spent a busy time in rescuing them, and was not always entirely s

, and just beyond the kaleidoscope of the platforms moved and changed restlessly under the glaring arc lights. Cecilia's bewilde

get information of any kind is as hard as to get one's luggage. However

at shall

s saying something. However, we've had luck. I went to ask in here, never imagining I had the ghost of a chance, and they'd just had telegrams giving up t

aid Cecilia comfortably. "Whe

he morning; and we haven't to be on board until three o'clock. She's supposed to pull out

ave stood another night in Lancaster Gate. I've been awake for three

led her gently out of her chair. "Come along; I'll have these things sent up to our rooms, and then we'll g

eenie, who all seized her, and began to drag her back. She fought and struggled with them, and from the top of the gangway came Mr. M'Clinton and Eliza, who tugged her upwards. Between the two parties she was beginning to think she would be torn to pieces, when suddenly came swooping from the clouds an areoplane, curiously like a wheelba

Bob's voice. "Lie still, and

nny room, with interesting people coming and going all the time. Bob and Cecilia smiled at each other like two happy children. It was

ay and lost themselves in the corridors or endeavoured to commit suicide by means of the lift. So Cecilia took command of them and played with them until the harassed mother had finished, a

es who were going," she said. "I d

our passages," Cecilia said. "He

rls on board," said Mrs. Burton, her new friend. "Most of the women on the tra

ustralian?" C

ned to his regiment as soon as war broke out. I don't think there wi

hat?" Ceci

believe they are rather awful to travel on-they must be terrible in rough weather. The non-family ship

among the

've never been without a nurse for them until last nig

She stroked Tim's curly head as she spoke: Dickie, his litt

n smiled h

ne," she said. "I hope our cabins are not far apart. Oh, here is

the regular officer. They were still chatting when Bob arrived, to be introduced-

places where they hide luggage," said the colonel. "

morning, and finally, after a breathless hunt, turned up in a lamp-room-your biggest Saratoga, Tommy! Why anyone shou

ly started for the

h the driver's, and found everything right, and saw him s

r as I can gather, since cabins appear to be allotted just as you go on board-a peculiar system. Can you imagine the gha

id Bob, laughing. "Come along, To

, among miles of beautiful houses, and, getting down at the terminus, walked briskly for an hour, since it would be long before there would be any land for them to walk on again. They got back to the hotel rather late for lunch, and very hungry; and afterwards it was time to p

gate across the end of a pier where two policemen were on duty to prevent the entrance of anyone without a pass. Porters were there in singular numbers-England had gr

ve left

tled her bro

m," said the shamefaced Cecilia. "I remember

xi and go back for it, Tommy: I can't leave the luggage, and I may be wanted to show our papers, besides; but y

a's passport, declared that he would know her any

her ye get back," he said cheerfully. "I know thim transports. Why, the

marching at ease, each man with his pack on his shoulder. A gate with a military sentry swung wide to admit

policeman. "They get marched straight on board. The officers and their belongin's has to wait till they've gone throu

comfortably in the cab as they whisked through the streets. At the hotel good fortune awaited her, for a chambermaid had just found her watch and

men-more "diggers" on their way to the transport. Cecilia's chauffeur turned back into a side stre

, performing mysterious rites, while Cecilia watched him

d bus has broke down. I'm afraid I can't get another m

ng out. "Do you think I c

to the docks-any p'liceman 'll direct you. You could walk it, if you liked-you've loads of time." He touched his cap as she paid him. "Very sorry to let

interesting, and the long wait on the pier would be shortened. She set off happily towards the m

ley in its window; such a medley as may be seen in any port where sailor-men bring home strange things from far countries. She was so eng

cil

face, inflamed with sudden anger, looked into

here, you wicked gir

r stepmother at her heels. Once, Mrs. Rainham gasped "Police!" after which she required all the breath to keep near the flying girl. The stree

caught and held by any officious person. Cecilia felt this, and her anxiety was keen as she darted round the corner into the next street, lo

ye. He shook his head, and she realized that he was already engaged-there was a pile of luggage beside him with big labels, and a familiar name struck he

Nauru. Could you take me

he other girl. "Plenty o

she had opened the door and jumped in before his daughter had finished speaking. Leaning forward, Cecilia saw her stepmother emerge from the traffic, crimson-faced, casting wild and wrathful glances abou

The others watched her with faces that clearly showed that

cilia, recovering. "It was inex

, in a slow, pleasant voice. "I

she found me, and she would have made a scene in the street-and scenes are so vulgar, are

bred voice with its faint hint of a French accent. The girl she looked at could hardly have been called pretty-she was slender and long-limbed, with honest gre

"In our country it's a very ordinary thing to give anyo

to be fellow-passengers, so it was very lu

suspicious and frigid, or of others who would have treated her with familiarity and curious questioning. These people were pleasantly matter-of-fact; gla

table thing. But my brother, Captain Rainham, will explain everythin

By the way, is there any need to guard against the-er-lad

urse, if it were in a novel she would leap into a swift moto

o that she could look out of the tiny window a

van and a pony cart," she said. "

oes she, for that matter-and I'm sure she wouldn't try to follow me. She knows, too, that if she found me she couldn't

she will have your brother to deal wit

e held up her wrist, with her watch safely in its place. He examined her companions' passports, but let her through with an airy "Sure, this y

uneasy about you," he said.

and gentleman most kindly gave me a seat, and saved me

ned, sa

y at letting my little sister run about alone

re luggage should go? My son and a friend are somewhere on the pier, I sup

and a steady stream was still passing aboard by the overhead gangway to the blare and crash of a regimental march. The pier itself was crowded with officers, with a sprinkling of women and children-most of them

ock, but there's no sign of him yet, and every one has to wait his convenience. It's hard on the women with little children-the poor mites are getting tired and cross. Luggage can be left in the care of the

aimed. "I believe I've got a let

pid of me-of course, I met Harran at my club this week, and he told me about you." He held out his hand, and took Bob's warmly; then he turned

turned with a

dering what you would be like, because

did not think you would begin so early," Cecilia said. "Just fancy

ju

ean to say y

I lost my head and ran from her like a

her with sole

e!" he ejaculated. "Why, you might have got yourself

enely. "You see, I looked at Miss Linton

laughed un

ld age, Norah," said her father.

y," Norah said. "He might treat

said her father. "Now, Rainham,

ed, swung to an enormous height and then lowered gently upon the deck of the Nauru. Just as the operation was finished two figures

rave-faced fellow, with a strong resemblance t

t appears that we would have been wiser not to hurry," said Mr. Linton. "Jim, I wan

companion, Captain Meadows, who was dark an

chief difficulty is that the powers that be aren't there; everything is hung up waiting for t

hundred angry people, it might disturb his rest," said Wally Meadows.

along the pier. "He rescued a curly-haired kid from a watery grave-at least, it would have b

in him, instead of blood. I'm sorry for his mother-she'll have a packed t

, and trotted across to him with a shrill cry of "There's mine officer!"-whereat Wally swung him up on his shoulder,

on board early for their afternoon sleep; now it's after four, and we have stood here ever since. It's too tantalizing

rance; and looking at her, one felt that the filthy case was the most welcome thing she had found that afternoon. Her husband, an officer

the little bundle and crooned over i

e, yet stiff, refusal on the English girl's face; saw Norah, with a swift decided movement stoop down and take t

e'd get it

she hasn't arms enough for all t

sten the business of getting on board-coming back, after each useless journey, to try and soothe a screaming baby or restrain a tiny boy anxious to look over the edge of the pier. It was only a few minutes before Cecilia had found a mother exhausted enough to yield up her baby without much protest; and Jim and Wally Mead

aid Mr. Linton. "Let the

ce bursting out at last. Passports examined, a procession began up the gangway; each man compelled to halt at a barrier on top, where two officers sat allotting cabins. It was difficult t

not without thankfulness, relinquished their adopted babies. The officers a

gether." He gave

w curious!"

the ship. Over two thousand men and two hundred officers, to say nothing of wives and children." He leaned bac

y on," said Jim Linton, following the girls up t

tle laugh. "Nothing would

His hand fell on his sister's sh

m was so happy that wo

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