es," said Norah. "We'll have to
look after you and give you nourishment at short intervals."

"We'll take that, if it's Miss de Lisle's cooking. Now don't think
about this business too much. I thought I'd better tell you, but
nothing is definite yet. Perhaps I'd better not tell Dad."

"No, don't; he's so happy."

"I wish I didn't have to make either of you less happy," Jim said in a
troubled voice. "But it can't be helped."

"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 apron 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