e said at length.
"The house is pretty full as it is."

"There is the big room with two single beds," Norah said. "We can put
a third bed in. They won't mind being together."

Mrs. Atkins sniffed.

"It isn't usual to crowd people like that, miss."

"It won't matter in this case," said Norah.

"Did you say Australians, miss?" asked the housekeeper. "Officers?"

"One is an officer."

"And the others, miss?"

"I don't know--privates, very possibly," said Norah. "It doesn't
matter."

"Not matter! Well, upon my word!" ejaculated Mrs. Atkins. "Well, all
I can say, miss, is that it's very funny. And how do you think the
maids are going to do all that extra work?"

Norah began to experience a curious feeling of tingling.

"I am quite sure the maids can manage it," she said, commanding her
voice with an effort. "For one thing, I can easily help more than I
do now."

"We're not accustomed in this country to young ladies doing that sort
of thing," said Mrs. Atkins. Her evil temper mastered her. "And your
pet cook, the fine lady who's too grand to sit with me----"

Norah found her voice suddenly calm.

"You mustn't speak to me like that, Mrs. Atkins," she said, marvelling
at her own courage. "You will have to go away if you can't behave
properly."

Mrs. Atkins choked.

"Go away!" she said thickly. "Yes, I'll go away. I'm not going to
stay in a house like this, that's no more and no less than a
boarding-house! You and your friend the cook can----"

"Be quiet, woman!" said a voice of thunder. Norah, who had shrunk
back before the angry housekeeper, felt a throb of relief as Allenby
strode into the room. At the moment there was nothing of the butler
about him--he was Sergeant Allenby, and Mrs. Atkins was simply a
refractory private.

"I won't be quiet!" screamed the housekeeper. "I----"

"You will do as you're told," said Allenby, dropping a heavy hand on
her shoulder. "That's enough, now: not another word. Now go to your
room. Out of 'ere, or I'll send for the police."

Something in the hard, quiet voice filled Mrs. Atkins with terror.
She cast a bitter look at Norah, and then slunk out of the room.
Allenby closed the door behind her.

"I'm very sorry, miss," he said--butler once more. "I hope she didn't
frighten you."

"Oh, no--only she was rather horrible," said Norah. "Whatever is the
matter with her, Allenby? I hadn't said anything to make her so
idiotic."

"I've been suspec