CHAPTER XI
CHEERO!
It was ten days later that the summons to France came--ten days duringwhich the boys had managed to make several meteoric dashes over toHomewood for the night, and had accomplished one blissful week-end,during which, with the aid of their fellow-countrymen, they hadbrought the household to the verge of exhaustion from laughter.Nothing could damp their spirits: they rode and danced, sang andjoked, and, apparently, having no cares in the world themselves, weredetermined that no one else should have any. The Hunt family weredrawn into the fun: the kitchen was frequently invaded, and Miss deLisle declared that even her sitting-room was not sacred--and wasprivately very delighted that it was not. Allenby began to develop aregrettable lack of control over his once stolid features; Sarahherself was observed to stuff her apron into her mouth and rush fromthe dining-room on more than one occasion. And under cover of hismost energetic fooling Jim Linton watched his father and sister, andfooled the more happily whenever he made them laugh.
They arrived together unexpectedly on this last evening, preferring tobring their news rather than give it by telephone; and found, insteadof the usual cheery tea-party in the hall, only silence and emptiness.Allenby, appearing, broke into a broad smile of pleasure as he greetedthem.
"Every one's out, Mr. Jim."
"So it seems," Jim answered. "Where are they?"
"Not very far, sir," Allenby said. "Mrs. 'Unt has them all to teawith her to-day."
"Oh, we'll go over, Wal," Jim said. "Come and make yourself pretty:you've a splash of mud on your downy cheek." At the foot of thestairs he turned. "We're off to-morrow, Allenby."
Allenby's face fell.
"To France, sir?"
Jim nodded.
"The master and Miss Norah will be very sorry, sir. If I may say so,the 'ole 'ousehold will be sorry."
"Thanks, Allenby. We'll miss you all," Jim said pleasantly. Hesprang upstairs after Wally.
Mrs. Hunt's sitting-room was already dangerously crowded--there seemedno room at all for the two tall lads for whom Eva opened the door tenminutes later. A chorus of welcome greeted them, nevertheless.
"This is delightful," said Mrs. Hunt. "I'm sure I don't know howyou're going to fit in, but you must manage it somehow. If necessarywe'll all stand up and re-pack ourselves, but I warn you it is risky:the walls may not stand it!"
"Oh, don't trouble, Mrs. Hunt," Jim said. "We're quite all right."Both boys' eyes had sought Norah as they entered: and Norah, meetingthe glance, felt a sudden pang at her heart, and knew.
"My chair is ever so much too big for me," she said. "You can eachhave an arm."
"Good idea!" said Wally, perching on the broad arm of the easy-chairthat swallowed her up. "Come along, Jim, or we'll be lop-sided!"
"We put Norah in the biggest chair in the room, and everybody istreating her with profound respect," Mrs. Hunt said. "This is thefirst day for quite a while that she hasn't been hostess, so we madeher chief guest, and she is having a rest-cure."
"If you treat Norah with respect it won't have at all a restful effecton her," said Wally. "I've tried." To which Norah inquired, "When?"in a voice of such amazement that every one laughed.
"Misunderstood as usual," said Wally pathetically. "It really doesn'tpay to be like me and have a meek spirit: people only think you are aworm, and trample on you. Come here, Geoff, and take care of me:" andGeoffrey, who adored him, came. "Have you been riding old Breconlately?"
"'M!" said Geoffrey, nodding. "I can canter now!"
"Good man! Any tosses?"
"Well, just one," Geoffrey admitted. "He cantered before I had gottedready, and I fell off. But it didn't hurt."
"That's right. You practise always falling on a soft spot, and youneed never worry."
"But I'd rather practise sticking on," said Geoffrey. "It's nicer."
"You might practise both," said Wally. "You'll have plenty of both,you know." He laughed at the puzzled face. "Never mind, old chap.How are the others, and why aren't they here?"
"They're too little," Geoffrey said loftily. "Small childrens don'tcome in to tea, at least not when there's parties. I came, 'causeMother says I'm getting 'normous."
"So you are. Are the others quite well?"
"Oh yes," Geoffrey answered, clearly regarding the question asfoolish. "They're all right. Alison's got a puppy, and Michael'sbeen eating plate-powder. His mouf was all pink."
"What's that about my Michael," demanded Mrs. Hunt. "Oh yes--we foundhim making a hearty meal of plate-powder this morning. Douglas saysit should make him very bright. I'm thankful to say it doesn't seemto be going to kill him."
"Michael never will realize that there is a war on," said Major Hunt,aggrieved. "I found him gnawing the strap of one of my gaiters theother day."
"You shouldn't underfeed the poor kid," said Wally. "It's clear thathe's finding his nourishment when and how he can. Isn't there aSociety for dealing with people like you?"
"There is," said Jim solemnly. "It's called the Police Force."
"You're two horrible boys!" said their hostess, laughing. "And mylovely fat Michael!--he's getting so corpulent he can hardly waddle.He and the puppy are really very like each other; both of them find iteasier to roll than to run." She cast an inquiring eye round theroom: "Some more tea, Norah?"
"No, thank you, Mrs. Hunt." Norah's voice sounded strange in her ownears. She wanted to get away from the room, and the light-heartedchatter . . . to make sure, though she was sure already. The guns ofFrance seemed to sound very near her.
The party broke up after a while. Jim and Wally lingered behind theothers.
"Will you and the Major come over this evening, Mrs. Hunt? We're offto-morrow."
"Oh--I'm sorry." Mrs. Hunt's face fell. "Poor Norah!"
"Norah will keep smiling," said Jim. "But I'm jolly glad you're sonear her, Mrs. Hunt. You'll keep an eye on them, won't you? I'd beawfully obliged if you would."
"You may be very sure I will," she said. "And there will be atremendous welcome whenever you get leave."
"We won't lose any time in coming for it," Jim said. "Blighty meansmore than ever it did, now that we've got a real home. Then you'llcome to-night?"
"Of course we will." She watched them stride off into the shrubbery,and choked back a sigh.
Norah came back to them through the trees.
"It's marching orders, isn't it?"
"Yes, it's marching orders, old kiddie," Jim answered. They looked ateach other steadily: and then Norah's eyes met Wally's.
"When?" she asked.
"To-morrow morning."
"Well----" said Norah; and drew a long breath. "And I haven't yourlast week's socks darned! That comes of having too manyresponsibilities. Any buttons to be sewn on for either of you?"
"No, thanks," they told her, greatly relieved. She tucked a hand intoan arm of each boy, and they went towards the house. David Lintoncame out hurriedly to meet them.
"Allenby says----" he began. He did not need to go further.
"We were trotting in to tell you," said Jim.
"We'll be just in time to give the Boche a cheery Christmas," saidWally. "Norah, are you going to send us a Christmas hamper? With apudding?"
"Rather!" Norah answered. "And I'll put a lucky pig, and a button,and a threepenny-bit in it, so you'd better eat it with care, or youmay damage your teeth. Miss de Lisle and I are going to plan greatparcels for you; she's going to teach me to cook all sorts of things."
"After which you'll try them on the dogs--meaning us," Jim said,laughing. "Well, if we don't go into hospital after them, we'll letyou know."
They came into the house, where already the news of the boys' goinghad spread, and the "Once-Tired's," as Wally called their guests, werewaiting to wish them luck. Then everybody faded away unobtrusively,and left them to themselves. They went into the morning-room, andNorah darned socks vigorously while the boys kept up a running fire ofcheery talk. W
hatever was to come they would meet it with their headsup--all four.
They made dinner a revel--every one dressed in their best, and"playing-up" to their utmost, while Miss de Lisle--the only person inthe house who had wept--had sent up a dinner which really left hervery little extra chance of celebrating Peace, when that most blessedday should come. Over dessert, Colonel West rose unexpectedly, andmade a little speech, proposing the health of the boys, who sat, forthe first time, with utterly miserable faces, restraining aninclination to get under the table.
"I am sure," said the Colonel, "that we all wish the--ah--greatest ofluck to our host's sons--ah, that is, to his son andto--ah--his--ah----"
"Encumbrance," said Wally firmly.
"Quite," said the Colonel, without listening. "We know theywill--ah--make things hot for the Boche--ah--whenever they get achance. I--we--hope they will get plenty of chances: and--ah--that wewill see them--ah--back, with decorations and promotion. We will missthem--ah--very much. Speaking--ah--personally, I came here fit fornothing, and have--ah--laughed so much that I--ah--could almostbelieve myself a subaltern!"
The Tired People applauded energetically, and Mrs. West said"Quite--quite!" But there was something like tears in her eyes as shesaid it.
The Hunts arrived after dinner, and they all woke the house withringing choruses--echoed by Allenby in his pantry, as he polished thesilver; and Garrett sang a song which was not encored becausesomething in his silver tenor made a lump come into Norah's throat;and there was no room for that, to-night, of all nights. Jack Blakesang them a stockrider's song, with a chorus in which all theAustralians joined; and Dick Harrison recited "The Geebung Polo Club,"without any elocutionary tricks, and brought down the house. Jim hadslipped out to speak to Allenby: and presently, going out, they foundthe hall cleared, and the floor waxed for dancing. They danced togramophone music, manipulated by Mr. Linton: and Norah and Mrs. Hunthad to divide each dance into three, except those with Jim and Wally,which they refused to partition, regardless of disconsolate protestsfrom the other warriors. It was eleven o'clock when Allenby announcedstolidly, "Supper is served, sir!"
"Supper?" said Mr. Linton. "How's this, Norah?"
"_I_ don't know," said his daughter. "Ask Miss de Lisle!"
They filed in, to find a table laden and glittering; in the centre ahuge cake, bearing the greeting, "Good Luck!" with a silken Union Jackwaving proudly. Norah whispered to her father, and then ran away.She returned, presently, dragging the half-unwilling cook-lady.
"It's against _all_ my rules!" protested the captive.
"Rules be hanged!" said Jim cheerfully. "Just you sit there, Miss deLisle." And the cook-lady found herself beside Colonel West, who paidher great attention, regarding her, against the evidence of his eyes,as a Tired Person whom he had not previously chanced to meet.
"My poor, neglected babies!" said Mrs. Hunt tragically, as twelvestrokes chimed from the grandfather clock in the hall. Wally andNorah, crowned with blue and scarlet paper caps, the treasure ofcrackers, were performing a weird dance which they called, with novery good reason, a tango. It might have been anything, but itsatisfied the performers. The music stopped suddenly, and Mr. Lintonwound up the gramophone for the last time, slipping on a new record.The notes of "Auld Lang Syne," stole out.
They gathered round, holding hands while they sang it; singing withall their lungs and all their hearts: Norah between Jim and Wally,feeling her fingers crushed in each boyish grip.
_"Then here's a hand, my trusty friend, And gie's a hand o' thine."_
Over the music her heart listened to the booming of the guns acrossthe Channel. But she set her lips and sang on.
*****
It was morning, and they were on the station. The train came slowlyround the corner.
"I'll look after him, Nor." Wally's voice shook. "Don't worry toomuch, old girl."
"And yourself, too," she said.
"Oh, I'll keep an eye on _him_," said Jim. "And Dad's your job."
"And we'll plan all sorts of things for your next leave," said DavidLinton. "God bless you, boys."
They gripped hands. Then Jim put his arms round Norah's shoulder.
"You'll keep smiling, kiddie? Whatever comes?"
"Yes, I promise, Jimmy."
The guard was shouting.
"All aboard."
"Cheero, Norah!" Wally cried from the window. "We'll be back in notime!"
"Cheero!" She made the word come somehow. The train roared off roundthe curve.