Part 19 (1/2)

”By Jove! Truly, Miss Linton?--does Major Hunt live here? I'd give something to see him.”

”He lives just round the corner of that bush,” said Norah, laughing.

She indicated a big rhododendron. ”Is he at home, Geoff?”

”No--he's gone to London,” Geoff answered. ”But he'll be back for tea.”

”Then we'll go and call on Mrs. Hunt and ask her if we may come to tea,” Norah said. They strolled off, Geoff capering about them.

”I don't know Mrs. Hunt,” Garrett said. ”You see I only joined the regiment when war broke out--I had done a good bit of training, so they gave me a commission among the first. I didn't see such a lot of the Major, for he was doing special work in Ireland for awhile; but he was a regular brick to me. We're all awfully sick about his being smashed up.”

”But he's going to get better,” Norah said cheerfully. ”He's ever so much better now.”

They came out in front of the cottage, and discovered Mrs. Hunt playing hide-and-seek with Alison and Michael--with Alison much worried by Michael's complete inattention to anything in the shape of a rule. Michael, indeed, declined to be hid, and played on a steady line of his own, which consisted in toddling after his mother whenever she was in sight, and catching her with shrill squeaks of joy. It was perfectly satisfactory to him, but somewhat hara.s.sing to a stickler for detail.

Mrs. Hunt greeted Garrett warmly.

”Douglas has often talked about you--you're from Jamaica, aren't you?”

she said. ”He will be so delighted that you have come. Yes, of course you must come to tea, Norah. I'd ask you to lunch, only I'm perfectly certain there isn't enough to eat! And Geoff would be so disgusted at being done out of his lunch with you, which makes me think it's not really your society he wants, but the fearful joy of Allenby behind his chair.”

”I don't see why you should try to depress me,” Norah laughed. ”Well, we'll all go for a ride after lunch, and get back in time for tea, if you'll put up with me in a splashed habit--the roads are very muddy.

You ride, I suppose, Captain Garrett?”

”Oh, yes, thanks,” Garrett answered. ”It's the only fun I've had in France since the battalion went back into billets: a benevolent gunner used to lend me a horse--both of us devoutly hoping that I wouldn't be caught riding it.”

”Was it a nice horse?” Geoffrey demanded.

”Well, you wouldn't call it perfect, old chap. I think it was suffering from sh.e.l.l-shock: anyhow, it had nerves. It used to shake all over when it saw a Staff-officer!” He grinned. ”Or perhaps I did. On duty, that horse was as steady as old Time: but when it was alone, it jumped out of its skin at anything and everything. However, it was great exercise to ride it!”

”We'll give him Killaloe this afternoon, Geoff,” said Norah. ”Come on, and we'll show him the stables now.”

They bade _au revoir_ to Mrs. Hunt and sauntered towards the stables.

On the way appeared a form in a print frock, with flying cap and ap.r.o.n-strings.

”Did you want me, Katty?” Norah asked.

”There's a tallygrum after coming, miss, on a bicycle. And the boy's waiting.”

Norah knitted her brows over the sheet of flimsy paper.

”There's no answer, Katty, tell the boy.” She turned to Garrett, laughing. ”You're not going to be our only guest for long. Dad says he's bringing two people down to-night--Colonel and Mrs. West. Isn't it exciting! I'll have to leave you to Geoff while I go and talk to the housekeeper. Geoff, show Captain Garrett all the horses--Jones is at the stables.”

”Right!” said Geoffrey, bursting with importance. ”Come along, Captain Garrett. I'll let you pat my pony, if you like!”

Mrs. Atkins looked depressed at Norah's information.

”Dear me! And dinner ordered for three!” she said sourly. ”It makes a difference. And of course I really had not reckoned on more than you and Mr. Linton.”

”I can telephone for anything you want,” said Norah meekly.