-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