hey joined up we had to think of the chance of their
losing a limb. Jim never says anything about it, but I know Wally
dreads it. Dad and I found out all we could about artificial limbs,
and what can be done with them, so that we could help the boys if they
had bad luck. They are all right, so far, but of course there is
always the chance."

Hardress nodded.

"We planned that if bad luck came we would try to get them to do as
much as possible. Of course an arm is worse: to lose a leg is bad
enough, goodness knows--but it's better than an arm."

"That's one of the problems I've been studying," Hardress said grimly.

"Oh, but it is. And with you--why, in a few years no one will ever
guess that you have anything wrong. It's luck in one way, because a
leg doesn't make you conspicuous, and an arm does."

"That's true," he said energetically. "I have hoped desperately that
I'd be able to hide it; I just couldn't stick the idea of people
looking at me."

"Well, they won't," said Norah. "And the more you can carry on as
usual, the less bad it will seem. Now, let's plan what you can tackle
first. Can you walk much?"

"Not much. I get tired after about fifty yards."

"Well, we'll do fifty yards whenever you feel like it, and then we'll
sit down and talk until you can go on again." She hesitated.
"You--it doesn't trouble you to sit down?"

"Oh, no!" said Hardress, laughing for the first time. "It's an
awfully docile leg!"

"Then, can you drive? There's the motor, and a roomy tub-cart, and
the carriage."

"Yes--I can drive."

"Oh, I say!" cried Norah inelegantly, struck by a brilliant idea.
"Can you drive a motor?"

"No, I can't! I'm sorry."

"I'm not. Con will teach you--it will give you quite a new interest.
Would you like to learn?"

"By Jove, I would," he said eagerly. "You're sure your father won't
mind my risking his car?"

"Dad would laugh at such a foolish question," said Norah. "We'll go
and see Con now--shall we? it's not far to the stables. You might
have a lesson at once."

"Rather!" he said boyishly. "I say, Miss Linton, you are a brick!"

"Now about golf," Norah said, as they moved slowly away, Hardress
leaning heavily on his stick. "Will you try to play a little with me?
We could begin at the practice-holes beyond the terrace."

"Yes, I'd like to," he said.

"And billiards? We'll wait for a wet day, because I want you to live
in the open air as much as possible. I ca