f." They came in sight of Wally's heap of loot, and she
stopped in amazement.

"Bob--just look!"

"By Jupiter!" said Bob, "you saved my old box! You old brick. How did
you manage it? Why, it weighs a ton!"

Tommy was on her knees by the bundles. "Look!" she said. "Look, Bobby!
My silver things--and all Aunt Margaret's, and my little jewel box. And
my clothes! How did you do it, Wally?" Suddenly her voice broke. She put
her head down on the bundle in a passion of sobs.

"That's the best thing she could do," said David Linton gently. He
turned to Norah. "Let her cry--and bring her along presently, and we'll
take her home. Come along, boys, we'll get the horses and go and see
Wally's Noah's Ark."

CHAPTER XVI

BUILDING UP AGAIN

It was three months later, and Billabong lay in the peace of an
exquisite autumn evening. The orchard showed yellow and bronze against
the green of the pine trees; here and there oak and elm leaves fluttered
down lazily upon the lawn. The garden flamed with dahlias and asters,
amidst which Hogg worked contentedly. And there was utter content upon
the face of David Linton, as he stood on the broad stone steps of his
home, and looked towards the setting sun. Beyond the garden gleamed
the reed-fringed waters of the lagoon; further yet, the broad paddocks
stretched away, dotted with feeding Shorthorns. It was the view, of all
others, that he loved--his soul had longed for it during weary years of
exile and war. Now, it seemed that he could never tire of looking at it.

Brownie came up from the garden, a basket on her arm laden with splendid
mauve and pink asters. David Linton strolled across the gravel sweep to
meet her.

"What, Brownie--taking Miss Norah's job, are you?"

"Well, it ain't 'ardly that, sir," Brownie answered. "Miss Norah she
done the vases this morning, same as ushul, an' Miss Tommy elpin' her.
Only she wouldn't pick these 'ere astors, 'cause they're 'Oggs best, an'
she didn't like to 'urt 'im; you see she always remembers that onst they
go into the 'ouse, 'Ogg, 'e don't see 'em no more. An' she do love 'em
in the vases. So I just put the matter sensible like to 'Ogg, an', of
course, 'e saw reason and give me 'alf; an' I'll 'ave 'em on the table
to-night. Only they've filled every vase in the house already, I believe
I'll be druv to puttin' 'em in Mason jars!"

"Miss Norah will love them, no matter what they're in," said Mr. Linton.
"There's no sign of them yet, Brow