Captain Jim

A famous painter had made the vaulted ceiling an exquisite thing of palest blush-roses and laughing Cupids, tumbling among vine-leaves and tendrils. The white walls bore long panels of t

good to look at. All about the room were splendid palms in pots; from giants twenty feet high, to lesser ones the graceful leaves of which could just catc

ressed: they moved about in dressing-gowns, or lay on the sofas, or played games at the little tables. One man was i

ple dressing-gown, who came up the ward with wonderful swiftness, co

eat luck to be here; there are not many hospitals like this in England. But-well, even if home is only a beastly little

does," sai

ge. But I want them badly, for all that. And it's rough on my wife to be so much alone. She has led a kind of wandering life since war broke out-sometimes we've been abl

e other man. "I've seen my you

or Hunt. He looked impatiently towards the

the ground-floor (in an electric lift worked by an earl's daughter in a very neat uniform), it was not his w

lips. "But I persuaded her to give me the job of calling for you to-day: our car is rather more comfor

to look disappointed,

don't believe I'm up to much yet-and I'm rather keen o

the nurse, who had accompanied her pati

You promised to take all the exercise you could, a

's voice was resigned. Davi

identially. They said good-bye, and emerged in

a wouldn't bring them to the hospital to see me this last week. But it's certainly jolly to be out again." He leaned back, enjoying the comfort of the sw

ould be too early. Mrs. Hunt would not expect us so soon, and she-er-she meant to be out, with a

ing rather amazed. "Only she doesn't generally ta

e. "We'll take all of you out to-morrow-Mrs. Hunt and the t

behind them. Up and down long, suburban roads, beyond the trail of motor-'buses, until

gain!" he said. Presently he gl

u think?" he said. "I don't wa

tle more country air. The chauffeur has h

uest's attention, he managed to leave the agony of invention and to slide gracefully to cattle-mustering, about which it was not necessary to invent anything. Major Hunt became interested, and asked a few questions; and they were deep in

here are

house here for an ins

ent; I won'

ed irritation. He wanted to be home. The thought of the hard little sofa in the London flat suddenly became tempting-he could lie there and talk to the children, and watch Stella mov

lly be very g

ed a corner, and the car came to a standstill with her bonnet almost poking into a great clump of rhododendrons. There was a thatch

! Oh,

unt amazedly. "But ho

nd her, Norah Linton, with Alison trotting beside her, and Michael perched on one shoulder. At sight of

thlessly, tugging at the door

Linton, jumping out. "Let

getting out slowly. "At present, it's a nice dream. I

e, in a voice that shook a little. Her br

addy!" Geoff's hand was in

d Alison in a high pipe

said Geoffrey scornf

uch heaps t

e couch heaped with bright cushions, drawn close to an open casement. There was a fire of logs, crackling cheerily in the wide fireplace: there were their own belongings-photographs, books, his own pipe-rack and tobacco-jar: there were flowers everywhere, smiling a greeting. Tea-cups and s

disentangled Michael from his leg

ose, Stella?" he said. "I won't w

ang up Daddy's cap, Geoff: steady, Alison, darling-mind his

e dazed voice. "I find one has no curiosity, when one suddenly get

told him, laughing. "Now get quite

him. "They's cweam-an' cakes, evewy day.

y's voice was quivering with pride. He s

ittle fat Michael. I left white-faced babies in that beastly flat. And you too--"

stretch of imagination could Eva ever have been called shy; but she had a certain amount of awe for her master, and found speech in his presence a little difficult. But

l, sir. And ain't t

Eva-yes," sa

er heavy tread retreating to the ki

it's a lo

u see, she never had less than six smuts on her face in Bloomsbu

a matter of some difficulty, since all three children insisted on getting as close to him as possible, and he had but one good hand. He did not m

Norah and her father went to c

's stiff-necked and pr

n't part with t

comes to worst, we could let him pay us a little rent for t

xpressively. "That would be horrid-it

Major Hunt su

ve said 'No' flatly," he admitted. "But I haven't the heart to disturb th

ve anything to do with it. You're taking nothing from us-only from a man who died very cheerfully because he was able to do five minutes' work towa

s who may need it mo

" Mr. Linton responded. He glanced out

lawn, on the black pony: leading the fat Welsh pony, with Geoffrey on his back. The small boy sat very st

ered a delight

said. "Well done, old son!" He scanned him k

much teaching, and that he has naturally good hands. She's proud of him. I think,"

p his cap. Mr. Linton watched him cross the lawn with qu

uch like an invalid, Ma

ept well, and ate a huge breakfast: even the hand is less painful.

hank," he told her. "You gave us ou