Part 23 (1/2)
Her father's door was half-open, and the room was lit. Norah knocked.
”Come in,” said Mr. Linton. ”You, you bad child! I thought you were in bed long ago.”
”I'm going now,” Norah said. ”How did things go off, Daddy?”
”Quite well,” he said. ”And my daughter made a good hostess. I think they all enjoyed themselves, Norah.”
”I think so,” said she. ”They seemed happy enough. What about Captain Hardress, Dad?”
”He seemed comfortable,” Mr. Linton answered. ”I found him on a couch, with a rug over him, reading. Allenby said he ate a fair dinner. He's a nice fellow, Norah; I like him.”
”Was he badly wounded, Dad?”
”He didn't say much about himself. I gathered that he had been a long while in hospital. But I'm sorry for him, Norah; he seems very down on his luck.”
”Jim said so,” remarked Norah. ”Well, we must try to buck him up. I suppose Allenby will look after him, Dad, if he needs anything?”
”I told him to,” said Mr. Linton, with a grin. ”He looked at me coldly, and said, 'I 'ope, sir, I know my duty to a wounded officer.'
I believe I found myself apologizing. There are times when Allenby quite fails to hide his opinion of a mere civilian: I see myself sinking lower and lower in his eyes as we fill this place up with khaki: Good-night, Norah.”
CHAPTER IX
HOMEWOOD GETS BUSY
”Good morning, Captain Hardress.”
Hardress turned. He was standing in the porch, looking out over the park towards the yellowing woods.
”Good morning, Miss Linton. I hope you'll forgive me for being so lazy as to stay in bed for breakfast. You'll have to blame your butler: he simply didn't call me. The first thing I knew was an enormous tray with enough breakfast for six men--and Allenby grinning behind it.”
”You stay in bed to breakfast here, or get up, just as you feel inclined,” Norah said. ”There aren't any rules except two.”
”Isn't that a bit Irish?”
”Not exactly, because Jim says even those two may be broken. But I don't agree to that--at least, not for Rule 2.”
”Do tell me them,” he begged.
”Rule 1 is, 'Bed at ten o'clock.' That's the one that may be broken when necessary. Rule 2 is, 'Please do just what you feel like doing.'
That's the one I won't have broken--unless any one wants to do things that aren't good for them. Then I shall remember that they are patients, and become severe.”
”But I'm not a patient.”
”No--but you're tired. You've got to get quite fit. What would you like to do? Would you care to come for a ride?”
Hardress flushed darkly.
”Afraid I can't ride.”