le.

"You're just as tired as you can be," said Norah. "Now you're going
to rest, and Geoff will show me how to get tea."

"Oh, I couldn't let you into that awful little kitchen," said Mrs.
Hunt hastily. "And besides--I'm awfully sorry--I don't believe the
milkman has been yet."

"I could go to the milk-shop round the corner with a jug," said
Geoffrey anxiously. "Do let's, Mother."

"Is there one?" Norah asked. "Now, Mrs. Hunt, do rest--make her put
her feet up on the sofa, Dad. And Geoff and I will go for milk, and
I'll ask Eva to make tea. Can she?"

"Oh, of course she _can_" said Mrs. Hunt, ceasing to argue the point.
"But she's never fit to be seen."

"That doesn't matter," said David Linton masterfully. "We've seen her
once, and survived the shock. Just put your feet up, and tell me all
about your husband--Norah will see to things."

Eva, however, was found to have risen to the situation. She had used
soap and water with surprising effect, and now bloomed in a fresh cap
and an apron that had plainly done duty a good many times, but, being
turned inside out, still presented a decent front to the world. She
scorned help in preparing tea, but graciously permitted Norah to wash
the three children and brush their hair, and indicated where clean
overalls might be found. Then, escorted by all three, Norah sallied
forth, jug in hand, and found, not only the milk-shop, but another
where cakes and scones so clamoured to be bought that they all
returned laden with paper bags. Eva had made a huge plate of buttered
toast; so that the meal which presently made its appearance on the big
table in the drawing-room might well have justified the query as to
whether indeed a war were in progress.

Mrs. Hunt laughed, rather mirthlessly.

"I suppose I ought to protest--but I'm too tired," she said. "And it
is very nice to be taken care of again. Michael, you should have
bread-and-butter first."

"Vere isn't any," said Alison with triumph.

Norah was tucking a feeder under Michael's fat chin.

"Now he's my boy for a bit--not yours at all, Mrs. Hunt," she said,
laughing. "Forget them all: I'm going to be head nurse." And Mrs.
Hunt lay back thankfully, and submitted to be waited on, while the
shouts of laughter from the tea-table smoothed away a few more lines
from her face, and made even Eva, feasting on unaccustomed cakes in
the kitchen, smile grimly and murmur, "Lor, ain't they 'avin' a time!"

Not until