nfusion and concealed himself as well as he could behind a
coffee-pot.

"You might do much worse," Jim remarked, on their way to the station.
"He looks a smart man--and though this place is glorious, it's going
to take a bit of running. Keep him for a bit, at any rate, Dad."

"I think it might be as well," Mr. Linton answered. He turned at a
bend in the drive, to look back at Homewood, standing calm and
peaceful in its clustering trees. "Well, Norah, what do you think of
your property?"

"I'm quite unable to believe it's mine," said Norah, laughing. "But I
suppose that will come in time. However, there's one thing quite
certain, Dad--you and I will have to get very busy!"

CHAPTER III

OF LONDON AND OTHER MATTERS

Jim and Wally dropped lightly from the footboard of a swift
motor-'bus, dodged through the traffic, and swung quickly down a quiet
side-street. They stopped before a stone house, where, from a window
above, Norah watched their eager faces as Jim fitted his latchkey and
opened the door. She turned back into the room with a little sigh.

"There they are, Dad. And they're passed fit--I know."

David Linton looked up from the elbow-splint he was making.

"Well, it had to come, mate," he said.

"Yes, I know. But I hoped it wouldn't!" said poor Norah
inconsistently.

"You wouldn't like them not to go," said her father. And then cheery
footsteps clattered up the stairs, and the boys burst in.

"Passed!" shouted Jim. "Fit as fiddles!"

"When?" Norah asked.

"This day week. So we'll have nice time to settle you into Homewood
and try those horses, won't we?"

"Yes, rather!" said Norah. "Were they quite satisfied with your arm,
Wally?"

"Yes, they say it's a lovely arm," said that gentleman modestly. "I
always knew it, but it's nice to have other people agreeing with me!
And they say our lungs are beautiful too; not a trace of gas left.
And--oh, you tell them, Jim!"

"And we're not to go out yet," said Jim, grinning widely. "Special
Lewis-gun course at Aldershot first, and after that a bombing course.
So there you are." He broke off, his utterance hindered by the fact
that Norah had suddenly hugged him very hard, while David Linton,
jumping up, caught Wally's hand.

"Not the Front, my dear boys!"

"Well, not yet," said Wally, pumping the hand, and finding Norah's
searching for his free one. "It's pretty decent, isn't it? because
every one knows there will be plenty of wa