"Rather!" said Wally feelingly. "Do you remember the day I didn't
salute on parade?"

"I believe your mangled remains were carried off the barrack-square,"
said Jim, with a twinkle. "I expect I should have been one of the
fatigue-part, only that was the day I was improperly dressed!"

"What, you didn't come on parade in a bath-towel, did you?" his father
asked.

"No, but I had a shoulder-strap undone--it's nearly as bad, isn't it,
sir?" Jim grinned at Major Hunt.

"If I could remember the barrack-square frown, at the moment, I would
assume it," said that officer, laughing. "Never mind, I'll deal with
you both when we all get back."

"You haven't told me about the family," Norah persisted. "The family
you are strict with, I mean," she added kindly.

"You have no more respect for a field-officer than your brother has,"
said he.

"Whisper!" said Mrs. Hunt. "He was only a subaltern himself before
the war!"

Her husband eyed her severely.

"You'll get put under arrest if you make statements liable to excite
indiscipline among the troops!" he said. "Don't listen to her, Miss
Linton, and I'll tell you about the family she spoils. There's
Geoffrey, who is six, and Alison, who's five--at least I think she's
five, isn't she, Stella?"

"Much you know of your babies!" said his wife, with a fine scorn.
"Alison won't be five for two months."

"Hasn't she a passion for detail!" said her husband admiringly.
"Well, five-ish, Miss Linton. And finally there's a two-year-old
named Michael. And when they all get going together they make rather
more noise than a regiment. But they're rather jolly, and I hope
you'll come and see them."

"Oh, do," said Mrs. Hunt. "Geoff would just love to hear about
Australia. He told me the other day that when he grows up he means to
go out there and be a kangaroo!"

"I suppose you know you must never check a child's natural ambitions!"
Mr. Linton told her gravely.

"Was that your plan?" she laughed.

"Oh, my pair hadn't any ambitions beyond sitting on horses perpetually
and pursuing cattle!" said Mr. Linton. "That was very useful to me,
so I certainly didn't check it."

"H'm!" said Jim, regarding him inquiringly. "I wonder how your theory
would have lasted, Dad, if I'd grown my hair long and taken to
painting?"

"That wouldn't have been a natural ambition at all, so I should have
been able to deal with it with a clear conscience," said his father,
laughing. "In an