Norah had a sudden vision of the three small Hunts "who made rather more noise than a regiment" rampaging round the hara.s.sed mother as she tried to write.

"Perhaps it's as well--we'll study the cottage, and make sure that it's all right for them," said her father. "Then we'll kidnap them.

Meanwhile we'll go and send them a big hamper of fruit, and put some sweets in for the babies." A plan which was so completely after Norah's heart that she quite forgot her disappointment.

CHAPTER IV

SETTLING IN

They bade good-bye to the flat early next morning and went down to Homewood through a dense fog that rolled up almost to the carriage windows like ma.s.ses of white wool. At the station the closed carriage waited for them, with the brown cobs pawing the ground impatiently.

General Somers' chauffeur had gone with his master, and so far they had not succeeded in finding a subst.i.tute, but the groom and coachman, who were also gardeners in their spare time, considered themselves part and parcel of the place, and had no idea of changing their home.

"The cart for the luggage will be here presently, sir," Jones, the old coachman, told Mr. Linton. So they left a bewildering a.s.sortment of suit-cases and trunks piled up on the platform in the care of an ancient porter, and packed themselves into the carriage. Norah was wont to say that the only vehicle capable of accommodating her three long men-folk comfortably was an omnibus. The fog was lifting as they rolled smoothly up the long avenue; and just as they came within sight of the house a gleam of pale sunlight found its way through the misty clouds and lingered on the ivy-clad gables. The front door was flung wide to welcome them: on the steps hovered the ex-sergeant, wearing a discreet smile. Behind him fluttered a print dress and a white ap.r.o.n, presumably worn by his niece.

"I say, Norah, don't you feel like the Queen of Sheba entering her ancestral halls?" whispered Wally wickedly, as they mounted the steps.

"If she felt simply horrible, then I do!" returned Norah. "I suppose I'll get used to it in time, but at present I want a hollow log to crawl into!"

Allenby greeted them respectfully.

"We did not know what rooms you would like, sir," he said. "They are all practically ready, of course. My niece, miss, thought you might prefer the blue bedroom. Her name is Sarah, miss."

"We don't want the best rooms--the sunniest, I mean," Norah said.

"They must be for the Tired People, mustn't they, Dad?"

"Well, there are no Tired People, except ourselves, at present," said her father, laughing. "So if you have a fancy for any room, you had better take it, don't you think?"

"Well, we'll tour round, and see," said Norah diplomatically, with mental visions of the sudden "turning-out" of rooms should weary guests arrive. "It might be better to settle down from the first as we mean to be."

"A lady has come, miss," said Allenby. "I understood her to say she was the cook, but perhaps I made a mistake?" He paused, questioningly, his face comically puzzled.

"Oh--Miss de Lisle?"

"Yes, miss."

"Oh, yes, she's the cook," said Norah. "And the housekeeper--Mrs.

Atkins?"

"No one else has arrived, miss."

"Well, I expect she'll come," said Norah. "At least she promised."

"Miss de Lisle, miss, asked for her kitchenmaid."

"There isn't one, at present," said Norah, feeling a little desperate.

"Oh!" said Allenby, looking blank. "I--I am afraid, miss, that the lady expects one."

"Well, she can't have one until one comes," said Mr. Linton. "Cheer up, Norah, I'll talk to Miss de Lisle."

"I'll be the kitchenmaid, if necessary," said Wally cheerfully. "What does one do?"

Allenby shuddered visibly.

"My niece, I am sure, will do all she can, sir," he said. His gaze dwelt on Wally's uniform; it was easy to see him quailing in spirit before the vision of an officer with a kitchen mop. "Perhaps, miss, if you would like to see the rooms?"

They trooped upstairs, the silent house suddenly waking to life with the quick footsteps and cheery voices. The big front bedrooms were at once put aside for future guests. Norah fell in love with, and promptly appropriated, a little room that appeared to have been tucked into a corner by the architect, as an afterthought. It was curiously shaped, with a quaint little nook for the bed, and had a big window furnished with a low cushioned seat, wide enough for any one to curl up with a book. Mr. Linton and the boys selected rooms princ.i.p.ally remarkable for bareness. Jim had a lively hatred for furniture; they left him discussing with Allenby the question of removing a spindle-legged writing table. Mr. Linton and Norah went downstairs, with sinking hearts, to encounter Miss de Lisle.

On the way appeared Sarah; very clean and starched as to dress, very pink and shiny as to complexion. Her hair was strained back from her forehead so tightly it appeared to be pulling her eyes up.

"Oh, Sarah," said Mr. Linton, pausing.

"Yes, sir," said Sarah meekly.

"You may be required to help the cook for a few days until we--er--until the staff is complete," said her employer. "Your uncle tells me you will have no objection."

"It being understood, sir, as it is only tempory," said Sarah firmly.

"Oh, quite," said Mr. Linton hurriedly.

"And of course I will help you with the housework, Sarah," put in Norah.

Sarah looked more wooden than before.

"Thank you, miss, I'm sure," she returned.

They went on.

"Doesn't she make you feel a worm!" said Norah.

"This is a terrible business, Norah!" said Mr. Linton fervently. "I didn't guess what Brownie was saving me from, all these years."

They found Miss de Lisle in the kitchen, where an enormous range glowed like a fiery furnace, in which respect Miss de Lisle rather resembled it. She was a tall, stout woman, dressed in an overall several sizes too small for her. The overall was rose-coloured, and Miss de Lisle was many shades deeper in hue. She accepted their greetings without enthusiasm, and plunged at once into a catalogue of grievances.

"The butler tells me there is no kitchenmaid," she boomed wrathfully.

"And I had not expected such an antiquated range. Nor could I possibly manage with these saucepans"--sweeping a scornful hand towards an array which seemed to the hapless Lintons to err only on the side of magnificence. "There will be a number of necessary items.

And where am I to sit? You will hardly expect me to herd with the servants."

"It would be rough on them!" rose to Norah's lips. But she prudently kept the reflection to herself.

"To sit?" echoed Mr. Linton. "Why, I really hadn't thought of it."

His brow cleared. "Oh--there is the housekeeper's room."

"And who is the housekeeper? Is she a lady?"

"She hasn't said so, yet," said Mr. Linton. It was evident that he considered this a point in the absent housekeeper's favour. Miss de Lisle flamed anew.