isinfecting,
emerged from the ban of quarantine. Alison and Michael had a
rapturous reunion with their mother and Geoffrey, and Homewood grew
strangely quiet without the patter of their feet. Norah returned to
her post as housekeeper, to find little to do; the house seemed to run
on oiled wheels, and Miss de Lisle and the servants united in trying
to save her trouble.

"I dunno is it the fever she have on her," said Katty in the kitchen
one evening. "She's that quiet and pale-looking you wouldn't know her
for the same gerrl."

"Oh, there's no fear of fever now," said Miss de Lisle.

"Well, she is not right. Is it fretting she is, after Masther Jim?
She was that brave at first, you'd not have said there was any one
dead at all."

"I think she's tired out," said Miss de Lisle. "She has been under
great strain ever since the news of Mr. Jim came. And she is only a
child. She can't go through all that and finish up by nursing a fever
patient--and then avoid paying for it."

"She cannot, indeed," said Katty. "Why wouldn't the Masther take her
away for a change? Indeed, it's himself looks bad enough these times,
as well. We'll have the two of them ill on us if they don't take
care."

"They might go," said Miss de Lisle thoughtfully. "I'll suggest it to
Mr. Linton."

David Linton, indeed, would have done anything to bring back the
colour to Norah's cheeks and the light into her eyes. But when he
suggested going away she shrank from it pitifully.

"Ah, no, Daddy. I'm quite well, truly."

"Indeed you're not," he said. "Look at the way you never eat
anything!"

"Oh, I'll eat ever so much," said Norah eagerly. "Only don't go away:
we have work here, and we wouldn't know what to do with ourselves
anywhere else. Perhaps some time, when Wally comes home, if he cares
to go we might think about it. But not now, Daddy." She hesitated.
"Unless, of course, you want to very much."

"Not unless you do," he said. "Only get well, my girl."

"I'm quite all right," protested Norah. "It was only Geoff's illness
that made me a bit slack. And we've had a busy summer, haven't we? I
think our little war-job hasn't turned out too badly, Dad."

"Not too badly at all--if it hasn't been too much for my housekeeper,"
he said, looking at her keenly. "Remember, I won't have her knocked
up."

"I won't be, Daddy dear--I promise," Norah said.

She made a brave effort to keep his mind at ease as the days went on;
ri