your own timber?--ah, I thought so. That
makes it easier for me to refrain from prodding up my moral
courage--ha, ha!"

Norah hunted for a reply, and failed to find one.

"And you are actually Australians!" Mrs. West ran on. "_So_
interesting! I always do think that Australians are so original--so
quaintly original. It must be the wild life you lead. So unlike
dear, quiet little England. Bushrangers, and savage natives, and
gold-mining. How I should like to see it all!"

"Oh, you would find other attractions as well, Mrs. West," Mr. Linton
told her. "The 'wild life in savage places' phase of Australian
history is rather a back number."

"Oh, quite--quite," agreed his guest. "We stay-at-homes know so
little of the other side of the world. But we are not aloof--not
uninterested. We recognize the fascination of it all. The
glamour--yes, the glamour. Gordon's poems bring it all before one, do
they not? Such a true Australian! You must be very proud of him."

"We are--but he wasn't an Australian," said Mr. Linton. The lady
sailed on, unheeding.

"Yes. The voice of the native-born. And your splendid soldiers,
too!--I assure you I thrill whenever I meet one of the dear fellows in
the street in London. So tall and stern under their great
slouch-hats. Outposts of Empire, that is what I say to myself.
Outposts here, in the heart of our dear little Surrey! Linking the
ends of the earth, as it were. The strangeness of it all!"

Garrett, who had made an unobtrusive entrance some little time before,
and had been enjoying himself hugely in the background, now came up to
the group on the hearthrug and was duly introduced.

"Lately from France, did you say?" asked Mrs. West. "Yesterday!
Fancy! Like coming from one world into another, is it not, Captain
Garrett? To be only yesterday 'mid the thunder of shot and shell out
yonder; and to-night in----"

"In dear little Surrey," said Garrett innocently.

"Quite. Such a peaceful county--war seems so remote. You must tell
me some of your experiences to-morrow."

"Oh, I never have any," said Garrett hastily.

"Now, now!" She shook a playful forefinger at him. "I was a mother
to my husband's regiment, Captain Garrett, I assure you. Quite. I
used to say to all our subalterns, 'Now, remember that this house is
open to you at any time.' I felt that they were so far from their own
homes. 'Bring your troubles to me,' I would say, 'and let us
straighten