Part 26 (1/2)
”Me?” said Norah. ”I'd like to hug you!”
”I wish you would,” said Miss de Lisle, knitting more frantically than ever. ”You see, this is the first place I've been in where I've really been treated like a human being. You didn't patronize me, and you didn't snub me--any of you. But you laughed with me; and it was a mighty long time since laughing had come into my job. Dear me!”
finished Miss de Lisle--”you've no idea how at home with you all I've felt since Allenby fell over me in the pa.s.sage!”
”We loved you from that minute,” said Norah, laughing. ”Then you think we can really manage? You'll have to let me consult with you over everything--ordering, and all that: because I do want to learn my job. And you won't mind how many people we bring in?”
”Fill the house to explosion-point, if you like,” said Miss de Lisle.
”If you don't have a housekeeper you'll have two extra rooms to put your Tired People in. What's the good of a scheme like this if you don't run it thoroughly?”
She found herself suddenly hugged, to the no small disadvantage of the knitting.
”Oh, I'm so happy!” Norah cried. ”Now I'm going to enjoy the Home for Tired People: and up till now Mrs. Atkins has lain on my soul like a ton of bricks. Bless you, Miss de Lisle! I'm going to tell Dad.”
Her racing footsteps flew down the corridor.
But Miss de Lisle sat still, with a half smile on her rugged face.
Once she put her hand up to the place where Norah's lips had brushed her cheek.
”Dear me!” she murmured. ”Well, it's fifteen years since any one did _that_.” Still smiling, she picked up the knitting.
CHAPTER X
AUSTRALIA IN SURREY
The three Australians came that afternoon; and, like many Australians in the wilds of London with a vague idea of distances, having given themselves good time to catch their train, managed to catch the one before it; and so arrived at Homewood unheralded and unsung. Norah and Captain Hardress, who had been knocking golf-b.a.l.l.s about, were crossing the terrace on their way to tea when the three slouched hats caught Norah's eye through the trees of the avenue. She gasped, dropped her clubs, and fled to meet them. Hardress stared: then, perceiving the newcomers, smiled a little and went on slowly.
”I'd like to see her doing a hundred yards!” he said.
The three soldiers jumped as the flying figure came upon them, round a bend in the drive. Then one of them sprang forward.
”Harry!” said Norah.
”My word, I am glad to see you!” said Harry Trevor, pumping her hand.
”I say, Norah, you haven't changed a bit. You're just the same as when you were twelve--only that you've grown several feet.”
”Did you expect to find me bald and fat?” Norah laughed. ”Oh, Harry, we are glad to see you!”
”Well, you might have aged a little,” said he. ”Goodness knows _I_ have! Norah, where's old Jim?”
”He's at Aldershot--but you can be certain that he'll be here as soon as he possibly can--and Wally too.”
”That's good business.” He suddenly remembered his friends, who were affecting great interest in the botanical features of a beech-tree.
”Come here, you chaps; Norah, this is Jack Blake--and d.i.c.k Harrison.
They're awfully glad to see you, too!”
”Well, you might have let us say it for ourselves, digger,” said the two, shaking hands. ”We were just going to.”
”It's lovely to have you all,” said Norah. She looked over the tree--all tall fellows, lean and bronzed, with quiet faces and deep-set eyes, Blake bore a sergeant's stripes; d.i.c.k Harrison's sleeve modestly proclaimed him a lance-corporal.