e presently given the run of all Homewood, and assisted
greatly in preventing any of the Tired People from feeling dull.

Norah remained at the cottage, which was placed strictly in
quarantine, and played with Geoffrey through the slow days of weakness
that the little fellow found so hard to understand. Aids to
convalescence came from every quarter. Major Hunt, unable to leave
France, sent parcels of such toys and books as could still be bought
in half-ruined towns. Wally, who had been given four days' leave in
Paris--which bored him to death--sent truly amazing packages, and the
Tired People vied with David Linton in ransacking London for gifts for
the sick-room. Geoffrey thought them all very kind, and would have
given everything for one hour on Brecon beside Mr. Linton.

"You'll be able to ride soon, old chap," Norah said, on his first
afternoon out of bed.

"Will I?" The boy looked scornfully at his thin legs. "Look at
them--they're like silly sticks!"

"Yes, but Brecon won't mind that. And they'll get quite fat again.
Well, not fat--" as Geoffrey showed symptoms of horror--"but hard and
fit, like they were before. Quite useful."

"I do hope so," Geoffrey said. "I want them to be all right before
Father comes--and Wally. Will Wally come soon, do you think?"

"I'm afraid not: you see, he has been to Paris. There's hardly any
leave to England now."

"'Praps leave will be open by Christmas," Geoffrey suggested
hopefully. "Wouldn't it be a lovely Christmas if Father and Wally
both came?"

"Wouldn't it just?" Norah smiled at him; but the smile faded in a
moment, and she walked to the window and stood looking out. Christmas
had always been such a perfect time in their lives: she looked back to
years when it had always meant a season of welcoming Jim back; when
every day for weeks beforehand had been gay with preparations for his
return from school. Jim would arrive with his trunks bulging with
surprises for Christmas morning; Wally would be with him, both keen
and eager for every detail in the life of the homestead, just as ready
to work as to play. All Billabong, from the Chinese gardener to Mr.
Linton, hummed with the joy of their coming. Now, for the first time,
Christmas would bring them nothing of Jim.

She felt suddenly old and tired; and the feeling grew in the weeks
that followed, while Geoffrey gradually came back to strength and
merriment, and the cottage, after a strenuous period of d