Part 44 (1/2)

Harry and Bob, like most Australian soldiers in England, were themselves only children when they had the chance of playing with babies; they romped in the gra.s.s with them, swung them on low-growing boughs, or skimmed stones across placid pools, until the sun grew low in the west, and they came back across the park. Norah wheeled Michael in a tiny car; Bob carried Alison, and presently Geoffrey admitted that his legs were tired, and was glad to ride home astride Harry's broad shoulders. Mr. Linton came out to meet them, and they all went back to the cottage, where Eva had tea ready and was slightly aggrieved because her scones had cooled.

”Now, you must all go home,” Norah told her men-folk, after tea.

”It's late, and I have to bath three people.”

”Don't we see you again?” Harry asked.

”You may come over to-night if you like--Dad is coming,” Norah said.

”Geoff, you haven't finished, have you?”

”I don't think I'm very hungry,” Geoffrey said. ”May I go and shut up my guinea-pigs?”

”Yes, of course. Alison darling, I don't think you ought to have any more cakes.”

”I always has free-four-'leven when mother is at home,” said Alison firmly, annexing a chocolate cake and digging her little white teeth into it in the hope of averting any further argument. ”Michael doesn't want more, he had Geoff's.”

”Geoff's? But didn't Geoff eat any?”

”Geoff's silly to-night,” said his sister. ”Fancy not bein' hungry when there was choc'lit cakes!”

”I hope he didn't get too tired,” Norah said to herself anxiously.

”I'll hurry up and get them all to bed.”

She bathed Michael and Alison, with Eva in attendance, and tucked them up. They were very sleepy--too sleepy to be troubled that Mother was not there to kiss them good night; indeed, as Norah bent over Michael, he thought she was his mother, and murmured, ”Mum-mum,” in the dusk in a little contented voice. Norah put her cheek down to the rose-leaf one for a moment, and then hurried out.

”Geoff! Where are you, Geoff?”

”I'm here,” said Geoffrey, from the back doorstep. He rose and came towards her slowly. Something in his face made her vaguely uneasy.

”Ready for bed, old chap?” she asked. ”Come on--are you tired?”

”My legs are tired,” Geoffrey said. ”And my head's queer. It keeps turning round.” He put out a little appealing hand, and Norah took it in her own. It was burning hot.

”I--I wish Mother was home,” the boy said.

Norah sat down and took him on her knee. He put his head against her.

”You must just let old Norah look after you until Mother comes back,”

she said gently. The memory of the fever in the village came to her, and she turned sick with fear. For a moment she thought desperately of what she must do both for Geoffrey and for the other children.

”I won't bath Master Geoff; he is tired,” she said to Eva. She carried the little fellow into his room and slipped off his clothes; he turned in the cool sheets thankfully.

”Lie still, old man; I'll be back in a moment,” Norah said. She went out and called to Eva, reflecting with relief that the girl's hard c.o.c.kney sense was not likely to fail her.

”Eva,” she said, ”I'm afraid Master Geoff is ill. You know there is fever in the village, and I think he has it. I mustn't go near any one, because I've been looking after him. Run over to the house and tell Mr. Linton I would like him to come over--as quickly as possible.

Don't frighten him.”

”Right-oh!” said Eva. ”I won't be 'arf a tick.”

Her flying feet thudded across the gra.s.s as Norah went back to the room where Geoffrey was already sleeping heavily. She looked down at the little face, flushed and dry; in her heart an agony of dread for the Mother, away at her party in London. Then she went outside to wait for her father.

He came quickly, accompanied by Miss de Lisle and Harry Trevor.