hold it. But the _souffle was_ worth it, wasn't it? I must tell Miss
de Lisle."

"Miss de Lisle? Your cook?"

"Yes--it sounds well, doesn't it?" said Norah. "She's a dear, too."

"She is certainly a treasure," said Mrs. West. "Since the regiment
went out I have been living in horrible boarding-houses, where they
half-starve you, and what they do give you to eat is so murdered in
the cooking that you can hardly swallow it. Economical for the
management, but not very good for the guests. But one must take
things as they come, in this horrible war." She paused, the forced
smile fading from her lips. Somehow Norah felt that she was sorry for
her: she looked suddenly old, and worn and tired.

"Come and sit in this big chair, Mrs. West," she said. "You must have
had a long day."

"Well, quite," said Mrs. West. "You see, I went to take my husband
from the hospital at twelve o'clock, and then I found that your father
had made this delightful arrangement for us. It seemed too good to be
true. So I had to send Algernon to his club, and I rushed back to my
boarding-house and packed my things: and then I had to do some
shopping, and meet them at the station. And of course I never could
get a taxi when I wanted one. I really think I am a little tired.
This seems the kind of house where it doesn't matter to admit it."

"Of course not--isn't it a Home for Tired People?" Norah laughed.
Sarah entered with coffee, and she fussed gently about her guest,
settling her cushions and bringing her cup to her side with cream and
sugar.

"It's very delightful to be taken care of," said Mrs. West, with a
sigh. The affected, jerky manner dropped from her, and she became
more natural. "My children are all boys: I often have been sorry that
one was not a girl. A daughter must be a great comfort. Have you any
sisters, my dear?"

"No. Just one brother--he's in Captain Garrett's regiment."

"And you will go back to Australia after the war?"

"Oh, yes. We couldn't possibly stay away from Australia," Norah said,
wide-eyed. "You see, it's home."

"And England has not made you care any less for it?"

"Goodness, no!" Norah said warmly. "It's all very well in its way,
but it simply can't hold a candle to Australia!"

"But why?"

Norah hesitated.

"It's a bit hard to say," she answered at length. "Life is more
comfortable here, in some ways: more luxuries and conveniences of
living, I mean. And England is beautiful,