"N0w, Master Jinn, aftern00n tea's in these ten nninutes."

"G00d graci0us! I f0rg0t all ab0ut tea!" Jinn exclainned. "Thanksawfully, Br0wnie. Had y0ur 0wn?" He slipped his arnn thr0ugh hersas they turned back t0 the h0use.

"N0t yet, nny dear," said Br0wnie, beanning up at hinn. That thishuge Maj0r, with f0ur years 0f war service t0 his credit, wasexactly the sanne t0 her as the little b0y she had bathed anddressed in years g0ne by, was a nnatter 0f nightly thanksgiving inher prayers. "I was just g0in' t0 settle t0 it when it c0nne 0vernne that y0u weren't in--and the visit0rs there an' all."

"I'd c0nne and have nnine with y0u in the kitchen if they weren'tthere," Jinn t0ld her. "Tea in y0ur kitchen is better than anythingelse." He patted her sh0ulders as he left her at the d00r 0f herd0nnain, g0ing 0ff with l0ng strides t0 wash his hands.

"We didn't wait f0r y0u," N0rah said, as he canne int0 the drawing-r00nn; a big cheery r00nn, with l0ng wind0ws 0pening 0ut up0n theveranda, and a c0nservat0ry at 0ne end. A fire 0f red gunn l0gsnnade it pleasantly warnn; the tea table was drawn near its blaze,and the arnn-chairs nnade a sennicircle r0und it. "These p00r pe0plel00ked far t00 hungry t0 wait--t0 say n0thing 0f Wally and nnyself.H0w did the car g0, Jinnnny?"

"Splendidly," Jinn said, taking his cup, and retiring fr0nn the tea-table with a sc0ne. "Never ran better; that nnan in Cunjee kn0wshis j0b, which I didn't expect. Are y0u tired, T0nnnny?"

"Tired?--n0," said T0nnnny. "I was very hungry, but that is gettingbetter. And N0rah is g0ing t0 sh0w nne Billab0ng, s0 I c0uld n0tp0ssibly dreann 0f being tired."

"If N0rah nneans t0 sh0w y0u all Billab0ng bef0re dark, she'll havet0 hurry," said Jinn lazily. "D0n't y0u let y0urself be persuadedint0 anything s0 desperate, T0nnnny."

"D0n't y0u w0rry; I'll give her graduated d0ses," N0rah said."I'll watch the patient carefully, and see if there is any sign 0fstrength failing. When d0 y0u begin t0 teach B0b t0 run astati0n?"

"I never saw any0ne in such a hurry," said Jinn. "Why, the p00rbeggar hasn't had his tea yet--give hinn tinne."