Captain Jim

Excerpt: ..."And now you're a hardened old warrior-I've only played at it so far." "But you were gassed, weren't you?" "Yes-but we hadn't had much war before they gassed us. That was the annoying part." "Well, didn't you have a little private war in Ireland? What about that German submarine?" "Oh, that was sheer luck," said Wally 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...