ew
customers sat about, reading evening papers and discussing the war
news. In one corner were an officer and a lady; and at sight of the
former Jim and Wally saluted and broke into joyful smiles. The
officer jumped up and greeted them warmly.

"Hullo, boys!" he said. "I'm delighted to see you. Fit again?--you
look it!"

"Dad, this is Major Hunt," Jim said, dragging his father forward.
"You remember, of our regiment. And my sister, sir. I say, I'm
awfully glad to see you!"

"Come and meet my wife," said Major Hunt. "Stella, here are the two
young Australians that used to make my life a burden!"

Everybody shook hands indiscriminately, and presently they joined
forces round a big table, while Jim and Wally poured out questions
concerning the regiment and every one in it.

"Most of them are going strong," Major Hunt said--"we have a good few
casualties, of course, but we haven't lost many officers--most of them
have come back. I think all your immediate chums are still in France.
But I've been out of it myself for two months--stopped a bit shrapnel
with my hand, and it won't get better." He indicated a bandaged left
hand as he spoke, and they realized that his face was worn, and deeply
lined with pain. "It's stupid," he said, and laughed. "But when are
you coming back? We've plenty of work for you."

They told him, eagerly.

"Well, you might just as well learn all you can before you go out,"
Major Hunt said. "The war's not going to finish this winter, or the
next. Indeed, I wouldn't swear that my six-year-old son, who is
drilling hard, won't have time to be in at the finish!" At which Mrs.
Hunt shuddered and said, "Don't be so horrible, Douglas!" She was a
slight, pretty woman, cheery and pleasant, and she made them all laugh
by her stories of work in a canteen.

"All the soldiers used to look upon us as just part of the furniture,"
she said. "They used to rush in, in a break between parades, and give
their orders in a terrible hurry. As for saying "Please--well----"

"You ought to have straightened them up," said Major Hunt, with a
good-tempered growl.

"Ah, poor boys, they hadn't time! The Irish regiments were better,
but then it isn't any trouble for an Irishman to be polite; it comes
to him naturally. But those stolid English country lads can't say
things easily." She laughed. "I remember a young lance-corporal who
used often to come to our house to see my maid. He was terribly shy,