eturns, for the most potent
reason that none ever comes here. Thank Heaven, it's off their beat.
The Shrubbery's half a mile on."

Two minutes later they swept up a shady drive, past the creepered front
of a well-built house, and into a small courtyard.

As the emotions of the car subsided, a Cocker spaniel made her
appearance, squirming with affection and good-will, and offering up
short barks of thanksgiving by way of welcome.

"Hush, Jose, hush!" cried a pleasant voice, and the next moment Mrs.
Alison appeared in a doorway, wearing the traditional habiliments of a
smart maid-servant with a perfectly natural air.

When her sister-in-law, similarly attired, followed her into the yard,
Anthony felt as if he had been pushed on to a stage in the middle of a
musical comedy....

Not until his introduction was over, Mrs. Alison had shown him his
room--a simple sweet-smelling apartment, all pale green and white and
as fresh as a daisy--and they were all four seated in a cool parlour
about a hearty tea, did the feeling of unreality begin to wear off.

"There'll be just us four," said the housemaid. "The cook's a
villager, and doesn't sleep in. She and her daughter, the kitchenmaid,
feed together in the kitchen. They're a very nice pair, and seem to
think more of us than they do of the Bumbles. It's really as good as a
play. We pay the girl a shilling a week on the top of her wages, and
for that she lays our table and serves our meals. I expect George has
told you about the Bumbles. They're really two of the best."

"By the way," said Anthony, "oughtn't I to be reporting for duty?"

"Plenty of time," said Mrs. Alison. "I'll ask when I clear away tea.
They'll want to see you, just to say they hope you'll be happy more
than anything else. And now do ask some questions. I'm sure there
must be hundreds of things you're simply pining to know."

Anthony laughed.

"To be absolutely frank," he replied, "I'm still a little bit dizzy.
I've been on my beam ends so long that to suddenly fall on my feet,
like this, is disconcerting. I've sort of lost my balance."

"Of course you have," said Alison, lighting a pipe. "Bound to. I feel
rather overwrought myself. Let's go and cry in the garage."

"Don't take any notice of the fool," said his wife. "By the way,
there's one thing I ought to tell you, and that is that Christian names
are the order of the day. Off duty it's natural; on parade, since we
three glory in