her, and she grew silent, leaving the
conversation to her companions as the taxi whirred on its swift way
through the crowded streets until they drew up before the theatre.

In the vestibule she found her father close to her and endeavoured to
convey many things to him by squeezing his arm very hard among the
crowd, succeeding in so much that Mr. Linton knew perfectly well that
Norah was the victim of a new idea--and was quite content to wait to
be told what it was. But there was no chance of that until the
evening was over, and they had bade farewell to the Hunts, arranging
to have tea with them next day: after which a taxi bore them to the
Kensington flat, and they gathered in the sitting-room while Norah
brewed coffee over a spirit-lamp.

"I'm jolly glad we met the Hunts," Jim said. "But isn't it cruel luck
for a man like that to be kept back by a damaged hand!"

"Rough on Mrs. Hunt, too," Wally remarked. "She looked about as seedy
as he did."

"Daddy----!" said Norah eagerly.

David Linton laughed.

"Yes, I knew you had one," he said, "Out with it--I'll listen."

"They're Tired People," said Norah: and waited.

"Yes, they're certainly tired enough," said her father. "But the
children, Norah? I don't think we could possibly take in little
children, considering the other weary inmates."

"No, I thought that too," Norah answered eagerly. "But don't you
remember the cottage, Daddy? Why shouldn't they have it?"

"By Jove!" said Jim. "That jolly little thatched place?"

"Yes--it has several rooms. They could let their own house, and then
they'd save heaps of money. It would get them right out of London;
and Mrs. Hunt told me that London is the very worst place for him--the
doctors said so."

"That is certainly an idea," Mr. Linton said. "It's near enough to
London for Hunt to run up for his treatment. We could see that they
were comfortable." He smiled at Norah, whose flushed face was dimly
visible through the steam of the coffee. "I think it would be rather
a good way to begin our job, Norah."

"It would be so nice that it doesn't feel like any sort of work!" said
Norah.

"I think you may find a chance of work; they have three small
children, and not much money," said her father prophetically.

"I say, I hope the Major would agree," Jim put in. "I know he's
horribly proud."

"We'll kidnap the babies, and then they'll just have to come," Norah
laughed.

"Picture Mr. Linton," said Wal