Captain Jim

said Jim-"what'

ments," answered his father

auctioneer's advertis

it is like-the

r. Linton. "Meanwhile, the lawyers tell

hat?" que

s," said Wally airily

of his pocket, and reading from it. "Sorry, Norah, but I can't remember all t

going to re

cushion at the offender. "Not y

enny reading," said Mr. Linton severely. "Billiard-

ally. Jim sat upon him with silent fi

ern drainage, central heating, e

earth--?"

ear of a drought, or they wouldn't put it. Grounds including shady old-world gardens, walle

hat?" ask

me, muffled, from beneath Jim.

g unusual," said Jim

ong leases; one lease expires with lease of house. All in excellent order. I think

oking down, nothing was to be seen but a few mackintoshed pedestrians, splashing dismally along the wet, grey street. Across the road the trees in a little, fenced square were already g

ake so long in my life. But I can't make up my mind. Of course it must be so

o. You see you'd need nurses and a big staff, and doctors; and already that kind of thing is or

a convale

t. We wouldn't be able to call our souls our own; and we'd be perpetually irritated by Government under-strappers, interfering with us and giving orders-no,

was a

eas," said Norah, in the voic

ton hes

I was thinking-do you remember Garrett, the fellow you boys used to te

the boys. "Fell

didn't like cities. So London bored him stiff when he

r want of a home: and without any ties it's easy for them to get into all sorts of mischief. And they should get all they can out of leave, for the sake of the War,

into a Home for Tired people?" said Nor

hink, Jim?" as

r mind a spring-cleaning whenever you can, if you want to keep fit. I suppose if people are a bit older they can stick it better-some of them,

ber, Jim, how old poor old Garrett used to look? He was always cheery and ragging, and all that sort of thing

will you have him for your first patient, Nor? What w

," grinn

lum," rejoined Jim. "How a

donkey," said Norah p

k. Oh, Dad, I

dn't have a convalescent home, where you'd need nurses and doctors; but I do think you might ask fellows on final sick-leave, like us-who'd been discha

without it." His young face looked suddenly grave; Norah remembered a saying of his once before-"I don't

ours too, Jimmy," she

would be

of course, and make mistakes, but we'll do our best, Norah. And if we can send back to the Front cheer

esitated-"I don't know much about money matters, or if you think I ought to keep the place. You see, you always seem to have

d Linton, laughing. "But-no, you w

tly-disabled soldiers,-where they could work a bit, just as much as they were able to, but they'd be sure of a h

ing," assiste

," said Norah gratefu

ave their pensio

-some poor beggar feeling like committing suicide because he couldn't tell where little Johnny's next p

course: but there will be plenty of time for that. I would like to make it as nearl

colony,"

g, and gardening, and intensive culture, it should pay well enough. We'l

g like that," said Norah, her eyes shining. "I'd lik

has some sort of quiet, inoffensive na

im. "Sort of name you'd like to think of in

ur seeing the house. By the way, there is another important thing: there's a motor and some vehicles and horses, and a few cows, that go with the place. O'Neill used to like to have it ready to go to at any time, no

said Norah

a m

d People from the station," said she. "Ho

d her father, laughing. "Anyhow

modestly. "It sounds

s, Daddy? I'd

rt," said Mr. Linton. "As for

e of apoplexy if either of you did anything so lowering. You may be allowed to ride, Norah, but it won't be an Australian scurry

t. "Wally, don't talk o

ish, isn'

n't seem to be included

on, stud

get too bucked because they're not. Public opinion will force yo

mly. "Unless you promis

n. "Therefore I shall accompany you in uniform-and watch yo

ud, which appeared to be a matter for humorous recollection to Jim and Wally. Whenever the thought of their return to that dim and terrible region that had swallowed up so many crossed her vision, something caught at her heart and made her breath come unevenly. She knew they mu

her rescue. There was never a moment when J

ut that place, Dad," he said. "I suppose you

England realizes war at all, so far; everything goes on just the same-not only 'business as usual,' but other things too: pleasure, luxuries, eating, clothes; everything as

re about righ

y things will cease to exist altogether. You'll find that coal will run short; and live stock will get scarce because people won't be able to get imported food stuffs that they depend on now. Oh, it's

Daddy?" queried N

at with us on the shares system, and we'll grow every bit of food for the house that we can. We'll have plenty of good cows, plenty of fow

"And I'll make tons of jam and bo

e private people would be allowed to store food; but a house run for a war purpose might be different. Anyhow, there's no shortage yet, so

d apple jam-and we'll dry apples. And if th

'm sure I don't blame them," said Jim, laughing.

y-disabled soldiers or sailors who could still work, or men with other physical drawbacks. Lots of men whose hearts are too we

," said Norah. "It would

ulty in getting men of the kind-poor lads, there are plenty of disabled ones. I

bit," said Norah-"

really good housekeeper as well as a cook; and goodness knows how many maids under her. You see the thing has got to be done very thoroughly. If it were just you and

Norah meekly. "But I

ed her

e. I'm only afraid you'

ownie were here inst

nd mainspring of the Billabong house, since Norah's own mother had laid her baby in her kind arms and closed tired eyes so many years ago.

enough to damage a saint's patience. However, as we can't hav

. "I've thought of nothing but this inheritance of Norah's all day, and I'm arriving at

looked out of the window. "The rain is stopping; come along, everybody, and we'll go down R

turtiums, directed them to Homewood. A walk of a mile along a wide white road brought them to big iron gates, standing open, beside a tiny lodge with diamond-paned windows set in lattice-work, und

ering like Norah's native gum-trees, but flinging wide arms as though to embrace as much as possible of the beauty of the landscape

g sheep," sa

ment. Jim was not used to English parks. He was apt to thin

orch flung out from the front of the house. A wide porch, almost a verandah; to the delighted eyes of the Australians, who considered verandah-less h

ly place!" Ji

ed in a terrace with a stone balustrade, where one could sit and look across the park and to woods beyond it-now turning a little yellow in the sunlight, and soon to glow with orang

breathed. She slipped a

e house and grounds thoroughly: an arrangement which considerably relieved the minds of the Australians, who had rather dreaded the prospect of "poking about" the house under the eyes of its tenants. The

o leave the 'ouse, too

e, but too b

any children

a and all its works. "And the mistress is tired of 'ousekeeping, so they're going to live in one of them there family 'otels, as they call them." The butler sighe

and couches and tables strewn with magazines and papers, together with a faint fragrance of tobacco in the air, gave to the hall a comforting sense of use. The drawing-room, on the other hand, was chillingly splendid and formal, and looked as though no one had ever sat

he other rooms be, if they weren't so awfu

ople," No

lessed if I think they woul

ack staircase, they penetrated to outer regions where the corner of Norah's soul that Brownie had made housewifely rejoiced over a big, bright kitchen with pantries and larders and sculleries of the most modern type. The cook, who looked severe, was reading the Daily Mail in the servants' hall; here and there they had glimpses of smart

med to gifts of sugar and apples, and Norah felt suddenly, for the first time, at home. There were two good cobs, and a hunter with a beautiful lean head and splendid shoulders; a Welsh pony designed for a roomy tub-cart in the coach house; and a good old stager able for anything from carrying a nervous rider to drawing a light plou

There was nothing very grand, but all was exquisitely kept; and a kind of still peace brooded over the beauty of the whole, and made War and its shadows seem very far away. The farms, well-tilled and prosperous-looking, were at the western side of the park: Mr. Linton and Jim talked with the tenant w

alked back across the park. "Hawkins, the tenant-farmer,

good, steady man, and a rare farmer. The General thinks 'ighl

conditions," Mr. Linton observed. "I don't wish

and he looked for a moment half-eagerly at Mr. Linton, as if about to speak. He checked himself, however, and they returned to the house, where, by the

sir," he said presently, "you'll

l Somers leaves,"

voice, standing ri

d wistfully, "you would

ing," said Mr. Linton, laughing. "There are

as them-and if you would be so kind as to consider if I'd do, sir? I know the place, and the General 'ud g

a small family-we mean to fill this place up with offic

t any one to 'elp you better, sir? Lookin' after officers 'as

er hand into he

d him, I believe, Da

ny special attention needed, I could give it. I'd do my very utmost, miss. I'm old to go out looking for a

you." At which the butler, forgetting his butlerhood, came smartly to attention-and then

n. "He looks a smart man-and though this place is glorious, it's go

in the drive, to look back at Homewood, standing calm and peaceful in

"But I suppose that will come in time. However, there's one t