Captain Jim

ickly down a quiet side-street. They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window above, Norah watched the

Dad. And they're

up from the elbow-

d to come, m

ed it wouldn't!" said p

er father. And then cheery footsteps clatt

uted Jim. "Fi

" Nora

e time to settle you into Homewoo

rah. "Were they quite

ll

lovely arm," said that

's nice to have other

are beautiful too; no

ou tell t

t, and after that a bombing course. So there you are." He broke off, his utterance hindered by the fa

ront, my d

s searching for his free one. "It's pretty decent, isn't it? beca

eed," said

g Norah's shoulder very hard. "One would thi

k her curls and mopping her eyes defiantly. "I was prepared for that, and then y

hey've treated us decently, and no mistake. You see, ever since June we've kept bothering them to go out, and then getting throat-tro

bit at being kept back for awhile. Lots of chaps seem to think being at the Front is heavenly, but I'm blessed if I can see it that wa

it's postponed for a bit; there will be heaps of war yet, and meanwhile we're just learning the trade." He straightene

did take his responsi

, lau

ked under "Master Jim." But he knew that soldiering had always been a serious business to his boy. Personal danger had never entered into Jim's mind; but the danger of ignorant handling of his men had

cheerfully, "and no anxieties immediatel

s they are enough,"

ore settled

e point, he says he has a niece whom he can recommend as a housemaid. So I have told him to instal her before we get to Homewood on Thursday. Hawkins has written a three-vol

oys r

y-one, doesn't it,

rantee so much as a kitchenmaid. They say sadly that 'in the present crisis' it's difficult to s

r if they mislay your property, or sell your purchase to some one else, or keep your repairs six months and then lose them, or sen

any excuse if you pay too little

hing. "The one department the Crisis doesn't hit is the one that se

h relief. "There's an awfully elegant

spirit of meekness in proposing himself had been in extraordinary contrast to the condescending truculence of other candidates, had been thankfully retained. There had at times seemed a danger that instead of butler he might awake to find himself maid-of-all-work, since not one of the applicants came up to even Norah's limited standard. Finally, however, Mr. Lin

they all tell you that nearly every servant in England has 'gone into munitions,'

might be benefited by

g at memories of

got to get a kitchenmaid and some more h

ew parts at first, and I've written to Ireland-to Mrs. Moroney-to see if she can find us two or three nice country girls. I believe she'll be able to do it. Meanwhile we'll throw care to the wi

and play," cried

aid the bo

we go!" said Norah airily. S

d heads, that only a mighty man could swing; swords such as that with which Coeur-de-Lion could slice through such a mace as though it were no more than a carrot-sinuous blades that Saladin loved, that would sever a down cushion flung in the air. Daggers and poignards, too, of every age, needle-pointed yet viciously strong, with exquisitely inlaid hilts and fine-lined blades; long rapiers that brought visions of gallants with curls and lace stocks and silken hose, as ready to fight as to dance or to make a poem to a fair lady's eyebrow. Helmets of every age, with visors behind which the knights of old had looked grimly as they charged down the lists at "gentle and joyous passages of arms." Horse-armour of amazing weight-"I always pictured those ol

VIII was very keen on her, wasn't he? And then she was only his second wife-by t

ish Main with ships laden with gold, swaggering up from the Docks to spend their prize-money as quickly as they earned it. Visions of dark nights, with link-boys running beside chair-bearers, carrying exquisite ladies to routs and masques: of foot-pads, slinking into dark alleys and doorways as the watch comes tramping down the street. Visions of the press-gang, hunting stout lads, into every tavern, whisking them from their hiding-places and off to the ships: to disappear with never a word of farewell until, years later, bronzed and tarred and strange of speech, they returned to astounded families who had long mourned them as dead. Visions of Queen Bess, with her haughty face and her red hair, riding through the City that adored her, her white p

his followers used to meet, to dine and afterwards to smoke long churchwarden pipes and talk, as Wally said, "such amazing fine language that it made you feel a little light-headed." It is to be feared that the Austra

, laughing, as his family turned from the seat of honour. "Why, good Amer

h Norah, with her nose tilted. Which seemed to

e Cheese. Being people of plain tastes they liked the solid, honest meals-especially since increasing War-prices were already inducing hotels and restaurants everywhere to disguise a tablespoonful of hashed oddments under an elegant French name and sell it for as much money as a dinner for a hungry man. Norah used to fight shy of the famous "lark-pudding" until it was whispered to her that what was not good beef steaks in the dish was nothing more tha

with brown habits and rope girdles pacing slowly along. There they bought quaint brown jars and mustard-pots of the kind that are used, and have always been used, on the tables above. But best of all were the great oaken beams above them, solid as England

nd a few customers sat about, reading evening papers and discussing the war news. In one corner were an officer and a lady;

I'm delighted to see you.

ather forward. "You remember, of our regiment. And

. "Stella, here are the two young Austra

joined forces round a big table, while Jim and Wally poured

iate chums are still in France. But I've been out of it myself for two months-stopped a bit shrapnel with my hand, and it won't get better." He indicated a bandaged left hand as

ld him,

, I wouldn't swear that my six-year-old son, who is drilling hard, won't have time to be in at the finish!" At which Mrs. Hunt shuddered and said, "

," she said. "They used to rush in, in a break between parades, and

ned them up," said Major Hun

ber a young lance-corporal who used often to come to our house to see my maid. He was terribly shy, and if I chanced to go into the kitchen he always bolted like a rabbit into the scullery. The really terrible thing was that sometimes I ha

gets the V.C. without

unt, la

they had a moment. Presently a warrior dashed up to the counter, banged down his penny and said 'Coffee!' in a voi

did yo

e-and I never saw a face so horror-stricken! Then he turned and fled, lea

iends with any of them,

had. But often one was on the rush for

d of you,"

a great respect for those boys. The lads who enlisted in England had all their chums doing the same thing, and everybody patted them on the back and said how noble they were, and gave them parties

ber of Irishmen who did enlist," said

nsters in Gallipoli." His face clouded: it was a grievous matter to Jim that he had not been w

mile. "I tell my husband that we must emigrate there after the war. It must be a g

th a damaged hand isn'

said

nt to go out," was his wife's cheerful res

t keen. Now, in his delight at meeting his senior officer again, Wally chattered away like a magpie, asking questions, telling Irish fishing-stories, and other stories of adventures in Ireland, hazarding wild opinions about the war, and generally manifesting a cheerful disregard of the fact that the tired man opposite him was not a subaltern as irresponsible as himself. Somehow, the weariness

dawdling over coffee. "Stella and I were feeling rather down on our luck, I believe, when yo

my big family in order," said Norah, laughing.

"You forget I have a

Norah asked. "Do you

aid Mrs. Hunt. "As a matter of fact, I am very strict, but Douglas undoes al

Wally sh

e wasn't here," Jim said. "There are

ly. "Do you remember the day

e," said Jim, with a twinkle. "I expect I should have been one of

parade in a bath-towel,

ndone-it's nearly as bad, isn't i

ment, I would assume it," said that officer, laughing. "

" Norah persisted. "The family you are

for a field-officer than y

. "He was only a subalter

d eyed her

s!" he said. "Don't listen to her, Miss Linton, and I'll tell you about the family she spoils. Th

r babies!" said his w

t be five fo

d finally there's a two-year-old named Michael. And when they all get going together they make r

r about Australia. He told me the other day that when h

must never check a chi

n told he

our plan?"

s perpetually and pursuing cattle!" said Mr. Linton. "Tha

wonder how your theory would have lasted, Dad,

al with it with a clear conscience," said his father, laughing. "In any case, the ma

rah pleasantly. "You

Army custom was to get your hair cut over the comb for home service and under the comb for active service. Jolly good rule,

his dark, close-cropped poll. "I say, isn't it time we made a move, if we're going to a show?" He l

up." He over-ruled any further objections by the simple process of ignoring them, whereupon the Hunts wisely gave up manufacturing any more: and presently they had disco

et you take possession

lplessly. "But it has

n. He has not laughed

about his hand?"

gh change, as well as treatment, but we can't manage it-the three babies are expensive atoms. Now there is a probability of another operation to his hand, and he

"The boys have always told us so much of

s. Hunt. "He liked them because he sa

on her, and she grew silent, leaving the conversation to her companions as the taxi whi

ectly well that Norah was the victim of a new idea-and was quite content to wait to be told what it was. But there was no chance of that until the evening was over, and they had bade farewell

id. "But isn't it cruel luck for a man li

Wally remarked. "She looked

said Nora

inton l

one," he said, "Out

People," said N

ut the children, Norah? I don't think we could possibly ta

eagerly. "But don't you remember the co

m. "That jolly lit

save heaps of money. It would get them right out of London; and Mrs. Hunt

reatment. We could see that they were comfortable." He smiled at Norah, whose flushed face was dimly v

at it doesn't feel like

ra

hey have three small children, and not mu

ould agree," Jim put in. "

and then they'll just ha

d work by stalking through London with three kids sticking out

shot guns!" supplemented Jim. "I like your pacifist i

nt notion-there certainly wouldn't be another convalescent home in England run on the same lines.

, but I like somebody else to manage 'em. I thought b

it's bed-time, so good-night, everybody." He dispersed the assembly by the simple process of switching off the

orning, and was going into hospital for an immediate operation. She hoped to fix a day later on-the note was a little incoherent. Norah had a

. "Then we'll kidnap them. Meanwhile we'll go and send them a big hamper of fruit, and put some sweets in f