P 40 P 40 "How soon do you want it?" asked wily Julia, hoping to hear some news. Mr. Harding laughed and glanced at the watch on his wrist. "It's half-past four now,—I'll give you till six o'clock." "Want chocolate in yours?" asked William, looking affectionately at the shiny brown packages waiting to be distributed among the kits. "Don't I though! Sort of like to join the army yourself, wouldn't you?" inquired Mr. Harding, picking up the little boy and swinging him over his shoulders until he squealed with excitement. "Look out for your feet, now. There wouldn't be much left of your cousin if you came down on top of her," cautioned the young man, setting William down at a safe distance from Marian's golden head. "I wouldn't hurt her,—she's sick," said William with kindly superiority, catching his breath after his rapid flight through the air. "I'm not," said Marian quickly, her blue eyes lighting up, but at sight of William's funny little air of condescension her lips wavered to a smile, and for a moment she forgot herself and joined in the others' laughter. "Marian's almost well now, William," said Lucy, to smooth things over, and Mr. Harding, getting up at sound of a footstep inside the hall, asked: P 41 P 41 "Can you believe Bob will come home an officer in two weeks, Lucy? I can't—he seems such a kid." "Doesn't he?" said Lucy, pausing thoughtfully in her work, her brother's tall figure and boyish face before her eyes. "Well, I wish I were an officer." "Lucy," said Mr. Harding, "I think we'll have to make you Captain by courtesy of the Twenty-Eighth. Would you like that?" "Would I!" exclaimed Lucy, her eyes shining. "Oh, you are joking." "Never more serious in my life," said Mr. Harding, his eyes twinkling, as he came to a stiff salute. "Captain Lucy!" And Lucy, a little breathless and self-conscious, returned it amid the pleased exclamations of the
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