"Let me sit down, children," said David Linton presently; and they saw that he was trembling. "I'm getting an old man, Jim; I didn't know how old I was, until we lost you."

"You couldn't get old if you tried," said Jim proudly. "And you can't lose me either--can he, Norah?" They drew together again; it seemed complete happiness just to touch each other--not to speak; to be together. Afterwards there would be explanations; but they seemed the last thing that mattered now.

They did not hear the hoot of a motor in the drive or a ring at the front door. Allenby answered it, and admitted a tall subaltern.

"Mr. Wally!"

"Evening, Allenby," said Wally. "I believe I'm a bit ahead of time--I didn't expect to get here so soon. Do you think they'll have a corner for me?"

Allenby laughed--a rather quavering laugh.

"I think you'll always find your room ready, sir," he said. "You--I suppose you 'aven't 'eard our good news, sir?"

"I never hear good news," said Wally shortly. "What is it?"

Allenby eyed him doubtfully.

"I don't know as I oughtn't to break it to you a bit, sir," he said.

"You can't be over-strong yet, and you wounded, and all; and never 'aving rightly got over losing Mr. Jim, and----"

Wally shuddered.

"For Heaven's sake, man, stop breaking it gently!" he said. "What is it?" In his voice was the crisp tone of the officer; and the ex-sergeant came to attention smartly.

"It's Mr. Jim, sir," he said. "'E's 'ome."

For a long moment Wally stared at him.

"You're not mad, I suppose?" he said slowly. "Or perhaps I am. Do you mean----"

"Them 'Uns couldn't kill him, sir!" Allenby's voice rose on a note of triumph. "Let me take your coat, sir--'e's in the study. And you coming just puts the top on everything, sir!"

He reached up for Wally's coat. But the boy broke from him and ran blindly to the study, bursting in upon the group by the fire. There he stopped dead, and stared at them.

"Old chap!" said Jim. He sprang to him, and flung an arm round his shoulders. Then he gave a great sigh of utter contentment, and echoed Allenby unconsciously.

"Well, if that doesn't make everything just perfect!" he said.

CHAPTER XX

ALL CLEAR

"Kiddie, are you awake?"

"Come in, Jimmy."

Norah sat up in bed and felt for the electric switch. The room sprang into light as Jim came in.

"I had to come and bring your stocking," he said. "Merry Christmas, little chap."

"Merry Christmas, Jimmy dear." Norah looked at the bulging stocking on her bed, and broke into laughter. "And you a full-blown Captain!

Oh, Jimmy, are you ever going to grow up?"

"I trust not," said Jim comfortably--"if it means getting any bigger than I am. But you're not, either, so it doesn't matter. Do you remember all the Christmases at Billabong when I had to bring you your stocking?"

"Do I remember!" echoed Norah scornfully. "But at Billabong it was daylight at four o'clock in the morning, and extremely hot--probably with a bush-fire or two thrown in. You'll be frozen to death here.

Turn on the electric stove, and we'll be comfy."

"That's a brain-wave," said Jim, complying. "I must admit I prefer an open fireplace and three-foot logs--but in a hurry those little contraptions of stoves are handy. Hold on now--I'll get you something to put over your shoulders."

"There's a woolly jacket over there," Norah said. "Let me have my property--I'm excited." She possessed herself of the stocking and fished for its contents. "Chocolates!--and in war-time! Aren't you ashamed?"

"Not much," said Jim calmly, extracting a huge chocolate from the box.

"I lived on swede turnips for six weeks, so I think the family deserves a few extras. Fish some more."

Norah obeyed, and brought to light articles of a varied nature; a pair of silk stockings, a book on _Housekeeping as a Science_, a large turnip, artistically carved, a box of French candied fruit, a mob-cap and a pair of housemaids' gloves, and, lastly, the cap of a sh.e.l.l, neatly made into a pin-tray.

"I did that in camp in Germany," said Jim. "And I swore I'd put it into your Christmas stocking. Which I have done."

"Bless you," said Norah. "I would rather lose a good many of my possessions than that." They smiled at each other; and, being an undemonstrative pair, the smile was a caress.

"Isn't this going to be a Christmas!" Norah said. "I've been lying awake for ever so long, trying to realize it. You alive again----"

"I never was dead," said Jim indignantly.

"It was a horribly good imitation. And Wally here, and even Harry; and Major Hunt home; and Geoff getting stronger every day. And Dad grown twenty years younger."

"And you too, I guess--judging by what you looked like the night I came home."

"Oh, I've got turned and made up to look like new," said Norah. She faltered a little. "Jimmy, I've been saying my prayers--_hard_."

"I've done that, too," said Jim. There was a long, contented silence.

"And somehow, now, I know you'll be all right--both of you," Norah said. "I just feel certain about it. Before--ever since the war began--I was always horribly afraid, but now I'm not afraid any more.

It can't last for ever; and some day we'll all go back."

"And that will be the best thing in the world," said Jim.

"The very best," she said.

Some one tapped at the door.

"May I come in?" asked Miss de Lisle's voice. She entered, bearing a little tray.

"You!" said Norah. "But you shouldn't."