horrible things.
It's rubbish, isn't it, Dad?"

"Grooms and top-hats don't seem to be included in the catalogue," said
Mr. Linton, studying it.

"Bless you, that's not necessary," said Jim. "I mean, you needn't get
too bucked because they're not. Public opinion will force you to get
them. Probably Nor will have to ride in a top-hat, too."

"Never!" said Norah firmly. "Unless you promise to do it too, Jimmy."

"My King and Country have called me," said Jim, with unction.
"Therefore I shall accompany you in uniform--and watch you trying to
keep the top-hat on. It will be ever so cheery."

"You won't," said Norah. "You'll be in the mud in Flanders----" and
then broke off, and changed the subject laboriously. There were few
subjects that did not furnish more or less fun to the Linton family;
but Norah never could manage to joke successfully about even the
Flanders mud, which appeared to be a matter for humorous recollection
to Jim and Wally. Whenever the thought of their return to that dim
and terrible region that had swallowed up so many crossed her vision,
something caught at her heart and made her breath come unevenly. She
knew they must go: she would not have had it otherwise, even had it
been certain that they would never come back to her. But that they
should not--so alive, so splendid in their laughing strength--the
agony of the thought haunted her dreams, no matter how she strove to
put it from her by day.

Jim saw the shadow in her eyes and came to her rescue. There was
never a moment when Jim and Norah failed to understand each other.

"You'll want a good deal of organization about that place, Dad," he
said. "I suppose you'll try to grow things--vegetables and crops?"

"I've been trying to look ahead," said Mr. Linton. "This is only the
second year of the War, and I've never thought it would be a short
business. It doesn't seem to me that England realizes war at all, so
far; everything goes on just the same--not only 'business as usual,'
but other things too: pleasure, luxuries, eating, clothes; everything
as usual. I reckon that conscription is bound to come, and before the
Hun gets put in his place nearly every able-bodied man in these
islands will be forced to help in the job."

"I think you're about right," Jim said.

"Well, then, other things will happen when the men go. Food will get
scarcer--the enemy will sink more and more ships; everything that the
shops and the farmers sell