Captain Jim

spital. She was tired and dispirited; her steps dragged as she made her way towards Picc

y, stopped and came ea

rs. Hunt? And h

en a good deal of pain, and he doesn't seem to pick up strength. The doctors say that his hand now depends a good deal upon his general health: he ought

-a captain in Major Hunt's regiment.

anything that will do that is good. He's terribly depress

h shopping, had lunched at a little French restaurant in Soho, where they ate queer dishes and talked exceedingly bad Fr

at, Daddy," said Norah,

e there i

doorway, proclaimed the fact. So they mounted flight after flight of stairs, and finally

he said curtly. "Gor

l she b

n'lly home about half-pa

ked at he

and airless, and smelling of Irish stew. Sounds of warfare came from behind a clo

a dingy little drawing-room. Nora

see the c

rl hes

I ain't had no time to clean 'em up. There a

y they are," said Norah h

"You'll tell the missus it was

of c

speckled glass, and the pictures were of the kind peculiar to London lodging-houses, apt to promote indigestion in the beholder. There was one little window, looking out upon a blank courtyard and a dirty li

s!" said Norah,

don summer in a Bloomsbury square, where the very pavements sweat tar, and the breathless, sticky heat is as cruel by night as by day. A boy of six, straight and well-grown, with dark hair and eyes, who held by the

spoke

s to come i

of us," said Norah. "You s

isn't cleaned up yet, and besides, there's no milk, a

nodded at her father, who suddenly smiled in the way that made every child love him, and, fishing in his pocket drew out a square white box-at sigh

id Mr. Linton, fumbling with it. "I can't undo it

om in a flash, the ba

w step or two, and

t sticks on top. You breaks this paper"-point

Linton, as the lid came off.

s in Fwance, and Daddy doesn't have enough pennies for chocs." Her busy fingers tossed aside tissue pape

to have

inton hurriedly, and caught her up on hi

" he asked, indicating the baby, who was making silent dives in

hael fell upon it, sitting on the carpet that he might devou

d. "Come on, Geoff." And the boy, who had hesitated, diggi

fficer?" he a

Linton. "But I have a big son

their re

as your

to the boy's eyes. "I'm go

suppose. And then you'll fight the Ge

ut I keep hoping there'll be

said that lady. "Wants to

ater, you are," said

"Shan't: I'm going to kill forty 'leven," with an air of finality which seemed to end the discussion. Norah checked any further warlike reflecti

h shot up the passengers from underground. She came with slow step into the dusty street. The flat was not far away: that was

the three long flights of stairs-her dainty soul revolting at their unswept dinginess. Stella Hunt had been brought up in a big house on

Voices came to her from the sitting-room, with a g

ere," she thought anxiously. "They may do s

ith Michael tucked into her lap, his face blissful as she told on his fat fingers the tale of the little pigs who went to market. The box of chocolates was on the t

and saw her-a slight fig

ou didn't forget the cakes, '

is burden on the he

don't mind our taking possession lik

ng, as she shook hands. "I've seldom seen three grubbier

ime," said Geoffrey ea

he only got m

s. Hunt," Norah pleaded. "

een picturing my poor babies tired to death of not being out-and then to come home

said Norah. "Now you're going to rest,

hen," said Mrs. Hunt hastily. "And besides-I'm awfu

lk-shop round the cor

ously. "Do le

ke her put her feet up on the sofa, Dad. And Geoff and I

" said Mrs. Hunt, ceas

never fit t

seen her once, and survived the shock. Just put your feet up,

elp in preparing tea, but graciously permitted Norah to wash the three children and brush their hair, and indicated where clean overalls might be found. Then, escorted by all three, Norah sallied forth, jug in hand, and found, not only the milk-shop, but another where cakes and scones

ughed, rathe

e said. "And it is very nice to be taken care of aga

y," said Aliso

a feeder under M

nt lay back thankfully, and submitted to be waited on, while the shouts of laughter from the tea-table smoothed away a few more lines f

that had come mysteriously from another of his pockets, did Dav

-a jolly little thatched place-close to our house that is simply clamouring to have

unt fl

as thatched cottages," she said. "We have this horrible abod

se-we'll sub-let it for

y of John O'Neill'

he went on. "We feel that we only hold the place in trust; the cottage is there, e

t," she said

nd you could keep chickens; and the sitting-room catches all the sun, and when Major Hunt comes out of the hospital it would be so quiet and peaceful. He could lie out under the trees on fine days on a rush lounge; and there are jo

we goin',

certainty. She and Geoffrey had stolen

fraid we can't," said

l says we can. W

"Away from-here!" He caught her hand.

Linton said. "The only question

afraid I couldn't be proud. But he will never acc

d David Linton calmly. "When

ek, if he is

e motor and whisk him down to Homewood before he realizes where he's going. Now, be sensible, Mrs. Hunt"-as she tried to speak. "You know what his

ddenly burs

how he hates it. And-trees, and grass, an

aid Alison. "An'

inority, you see, Mrs.

have to

ness: whereupon Michael raised a wrathful howl and flung himself bodily upon them, ejacula

not brave enough not to. But I

. "There's to be no question of house-cleaning here-I'll put in people to do that. You'll have your hus

rah was flushed with

s down to-day-I'm sure

have nothing to do but

dn't--" Mrs

ren. "Geoff, will you all come with my Daddy

ey hes

come soon

eave the flat to-morrow," Mrs. Hunt said, submitti

nd come. You'll be a good

lison. "Will I

ll be a darling: and we'll all sleep togeth

ned, Mrs. Hunt," said Mr. Linton, laughing. "Then you can really manage to g

ive me time to se

n't tell hi

course, Mr. Linton, I shall be ab

And the trains are good. Now I think you had bett

trying hard to remember instructions as

o with a bit of spoiling: they have had a dreary year. But I think they will be good

citement to smooth out any momentary dismay at parting. Only Geoffrey sat up very straight, with

ertain to come to

he said. "Good

ddle!" loud and clear, as they rushed through the crowded streets. When a block in the traffic came, people on 'buses looked down, smiling involu

tle of amazement as the party filed out of the station, though to the credit of his training be it

Are the

hey dears?" r

caught h

bly sit in front

h la

s? Would you ta

'ow to drive." Mr. Linton swung him up, smiling at the transfigured little face. Norah had already got her

nt up the steps to the open door of Homewood. "That kind man let me hol

e'll teach you to rid

asped with joy and

" asked Mr. Linton, when Norah joined

lk-with lots of cream. Michael demanded "Mummy," but he was too sleepy to worry much. But; Dad-Geoff wants y

big room where two of his three small guests were already sleeping soundly. He looked very

you to come," he said

ght, old chap, an

nton gravely. He held the small hand a moment in his own

. "I'm going-going to ride the pony . . .