"No, I know it can't, Jimmy. Don't you worry."

"Dear old chap," said Jim, and stood up. "I had better go and make myself presentable before the second gong goes." He paused. "You're all ready aren't you? Then you might go down. Wally will be wandering round everywhere, looking for you."

CHAPTER XI

CHEERO!

It was ten days later that the summons to France came--ten days during which the boys had managed to make several meteoric dashes over to Homewood for the night, and had accomplished one blissful week-end, during which, with the aid of their fellow-countrymen, they had brought the household to the verge of exhaustion from laughter.

Nothing could damp their spirits: they rode and danced, sang and joked, and, apparently, having no cares in the world themselves, were determined that no one else should have any. The Hunt family were drawn into the fun: the kitchen was frequently invaded, and Miss de Lisle declared that even her sitting-room was not sacred--and was privately very delighted that it was not. Allenby began to develop a regrettable lack of control over his once stolid features; Sarah herself was observed to stuff her ap.r.o.n into her mouth and rush from the dining-room on more than one occasion. And under cover of his most energetic fooling Jim Linton watched his father and sister, and fooled the more happily whenever he made them laugh.

They arrived together unexpectedly on this last evening, preferring to bring their news rather than give it by telephone; and found, instead of the usual cheery tea-party in the hall, only silence and emptiness.

Allenby, appearing, broke into a broad smile of pleasure as he greeted them.

"Every one's out, Mr. Jim."

"So it seems," Jim answered. "Where are they?"

"Not very far, sir," Allenby said. "Mrs. 'Unt has them all to tea with her to-day."

"Oh, we'll go over, Wal," Jim said. "Come and make yourself pretty: you've a splash of mud on your downy cheek." At the foot of the stairs he turned. "We're off to-morrow, Allenby."

Allenby's face fell.

"To France, sir?"

Jim nodded.

"The master and Miss Norah will be very sorry, sir. If I may say so, the 'ole 'ousehold will be sorry."

"Thanks, Allenby. We'll miss you all," Jim said pleasantly. He sprang upstairs after Wally.

Mrs. Hunt's sitting-room was already dangerously crowded--there seemed no room at all for the two tall lads for whom Eva opened the door ten minutes later. A chorus of welcome greeted them, nevertheless.

"This is delightful," said Mrs. Hunt. "I'm sure I don't know how you're going to fit in, but you must manage it somehow. If necessary we'll all stand up and re-pack ourselves, but I warn you it is risky: the walls may not stand it!"

"Oh, don't trouble, Mrs. Hunt," Jim said. "We're quite all right."

Both boys' eyes had sought Norah as they entered: and Norah, meeting the glance, felt a sudden pang at her heart, and knew.

"My chair is ever so much too big for me," she said. "You can each have an arm."

"Good idea!" said Wally, perching on the broad arm of the easy-chair that swallowed her up. "Come along, Jim, or we'll be lop-sided!"

"We put Norah in the biggest chair in the room, and everybody is treating her with profound respect," Mrs. Hunt said. "This is the first day for quite a while that she hasn't been hostess, so we made her chief guest, and she is having a rest-cure."

"If you treat Norah with respect it won't have at all a restful effect on her," said Wally. "I've tried." To which Norah inquired, "When?"

in a voice of such amazement that every one laughed.

"Misunderstood as usual," said Wally pathetically. "It really doesn't pay to be like me and have a meek spirit: people only think you are a worm, and trample on you. Come here, Geoff, and take care of me:" and Geoffrey, who adored him, came. "Have you been riding old Brecon lately?"

"'M!" said Geoffrey, nodding. "I can canter now!"

"Good man! Any tosses?"

"Well, just one," Geoffrey admitted. "He cantered before I had gotted ready, and I fell off. But it didn't hurt."

"That's right. You practise always falling on a soft spot, and you need never worry."

"But I'd rather practise sticking on," said Geoffrey. "It's nicer."

"You might practise both," said Wally. "You'll have plenty of both, you know." He laughed at the puzzled face. "Never mind, old chap.

How are the others, and why aren't they here?"

"They're too little," Geoffrey said loftily. "Small childrens don't come in to tea, at least not when there's parties. I came, 'cause Mother says I'm getting 'normous."

"So you are. Are the others quite well?"

"Oh yes," Geoffrey answered, clearly regarding the question as foolish. "They're all right. Alison's got a puppy, and Michael's been eating plate-powder. His mouf was all pink."

"What's that about my Michael," demanded Mrs. Hunt. "Oh yes--we found him making a hearty meal of plate-powder this morning. Douglas says it should make him very bright. I'm thankful to say it doesn't seem to be going to kill him."

"Michael never will realize that there is a war on," said Major Hunt, aggrieved. "I found him gnawing the strap of one of my gaiters the other day."

"You shouldn't underfeed the poor kid," said Wally. "It's clear that he's finding his nourishment when and how he can. Isn't there a Society for dealing with people like you?"

"There is," said Jim solemnly. "It's called the Police Force."

"You're two horrible boys!" said their hostess, laughing. "And my lovely fat Michael!--he's getting so corpulent he can hardly waddle.

He and the puppy are really very like each other; both of them find it easier to roll than to run." She cast an inquiring eye round the room: "Some more tea, Norah?"

"No, thank you, Mrs. Hunt." Norah's voice sounded strange in her own ears. She wanted to get away from the room, and the light-hearted chatter . . . to make sure, though she was sure already. The guns of France seemed to sound very near her.

The party broke up after a while. Jim and Wally lingered behind the others.

"Will you and the Major come over this evening, Mrs. Hunt? We're off to-morrow."

"Oh--I'm sorry." Mrs. Hunt's face fell. "Poor Norah!"

"Norah will keep smiling," said Jim. "But I'm jolly glad you're so near her, Mrs. Hunt. You'll keep an eye on them, won't you? I'd be awfully obliged if you would."

"You may be very sure I will," she said. "And there will be a tremendous welcome whenever you get leave."

"We won't lose any time in coming for it," Jim said. "Blighty means more than ever it did, now that we've got a real home. Then you'll come to-night?"

"Of course we will." She watched them stride off into the shrubbery, and choked back a sigh.