joyfully. "_Such_ a lark--only
for one thing. But we don't consider we've earned our keep yet."

"Oh, well, you've got lots of time," Harry said. "I wonder if they'll
send any of us to France--it would be rather fun if we got somewhere
in your part of the line."

"Yes, wouldn't it?" Then Jack Blake, who had been at school with the
boys, came up with Dick Harrison, and England ceased to exist for the
five Australians. They talked of their own country--old days at
school; hard-fought battles on the Melbourne Cricket Ground;
boat-racing on the Yarra; Billabong and other stations; bush-fires and
cattle-yarding; long days on the road with cattle, and nights spent
watching them under the stars. All the grim business of life that had
been theirs since those care-free days seemed but to make their own
land dearer by comparison. Not that they said so, in words. But they
lingered over their talk with an unspoken delight in being at home
again--even in memory.

Norah slipped away, regretfully enough, after a time: her
responsibilities as housekeeper weighed upon her, and she sought Miss
de Lisle in the kitchen.

"What, your brother and Mr. Wally? How delightful!" ejaculated the
cook-lady. "That's what I call really jolly. Their rooms are always
ready, I suppose?"

"Oh, yes," Norah said. "I've told Bride to put sheets on the beds."

"Then that's all right. Dinner? My dear, you need never worry about
a couple extra for dinner in a household of this size. Just tell the
maids to lay the table accordingly, and let me know--that is all you
need do."

"Mrs. Atkins had destroyed my nerve!" said Norah, laughing. "I came
down to tell you with the same scared feeling that I had when I used
to go to her room. My very knees were shaking!"

"Then you're a very bad child, if you _are_ my employer!" returned
Miss de Lisle. "However, I'll forgive you: but some time I want you
to make a list for me of the things those big boys of yours like most:
I might just as well cook them as not, when they come. And of course,
when they go out to France, we shall have to send them splendid
hampers."

"That will be a tremendous comfort," Norah said. "You're a brick,
Miss de Lisle. We used to send them hampers before, of course, but it
seemed so unsatisfactory just to order them at the Stores: it will be
ever so much nicer to cook them things. You _will_ let me cook, won't
you?"

"Indeed I will," said Miss de Lisle. "We'll s