Part 25 (1/2)

”Why we _must_ have them,” Norah said. She made a swift mental calculation. ”Yes--we can manage it.”

”You're sure,” asked her father, evidently relieved. ”I was afraid it might be too much for the house; and I would be very sorry to put them off.”

”Put off Australians, even if one of them wasn't Harry!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Norah. ”We couldn't do it! How will you get them, Dad?”

”I'll telephone to their hotel at once,” said her father. ”Shall I tell them to come to-day?”

”Oh, yes. You can arrange the train, Dad. Now I'll go and see Mrs.

Atkins.”

”'Tis yourself has great courage entirely,” said her father, looking at her respectfully. ”I'd rather tackle a wild buffalo!”

”I'm not sure that I wouldn't,” returned Norah. ”However, she's all the buffalo I've got, so I may as well get it over.” She turned as she reached the door. ”Tell old Harry how glad we are, Dad. And don't you think you ought to let Jim know?”

”Yes--I'll ring him up too.” And off went Norah, singing. Three Australians--in ”dear little Surrey!” It was almost too good to be true.

But Mrs. Atkins did not think so. She was sorting linen, with a sour face, when Norah entered her sanctum and made known her news. The housekeeper remained silent for a moment.

”Well, I don't see how we're to manage, miss,” she said at length.

”The house is pretty full as it is.”

”There is the big room with two single beds,” Norah said. ”We can put a third bed in. They won't mind being together.”

Mrs. Atkins sniffed.

”It isn't usual to crowd people like that, miss.”

”It won't matter in this case,” said Norah.

”Did you say Australians, miss?” asked the housekeeper. ”Officers?”

”One is an officer.”

”And the others, miss?”

”I don't know--privates, very possibly,” said Norah. ”It doesn't matter.”

”Not matter! Well, upon my word!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mrs. Atkins. ”Well, all I can say, miss, is that it's very funny. And how do you think the maids are going to do all that extra work?”

Norah began to experience a curious feeling of tingling.

”I am quite sure the maids can manage it,” she said, commanding her voice with an effort. ”For one thing, I can easily help more than I do now.”

”We're not accustomed in this country to young ladies doing that sort of thing,” said Mrs. Atkins. Her evil temper mastered her. ”And your pet cook, the fine lady who's too grand to sit with me----”

Norah found her voice suddenly calm.

”You mustn't speak to me like that, Mrs. Atkins,” she said, marvelling at her own courage. ”You will have to go away if you can't behave properly.”

Mrs. Atkins choked.

”Go away!” she said thickly. ”Yes, I'll go away. I'm not going to stay in a house like this, that's no more and no less than a boarding-house! You and your friend the cook can----”