[Illustration:  “THE BARRIER WAS DOWN AT LAST”]

“Oh, I’m better now,” he replied in answer to her inquiries.  “I don’t have pain all the time.  I was pretty bad after the meds. had been doing their carving.  I can tell you I welcomed the morphia!  But I don’t need it so often now, and my leg’s going on splendidly.  It’ll be a first-rate job when it’s finished.  Old Jackson promises to have me out of bed on crutches before so long!”

“Crutches!” gasped Winona, in alarm.

“Why, just at first, of course!”

“We hope he won’t need to use them for long,” said Aunt Harriet.  “The Commandant tells me they’re very proud of your case at the hospital, Percy!  They flatter themselves they’ve saved your leg where some surgeons would have amputated.  You seem very comfortable here.  It’s a nice ward.”

“Oh, yes, they’re angelic to me.  I’m a spoilt child, I can tell you.  I was lucky to get into a ‘Red Cross.’  They’re stuffing us here all day, and those chaps that can go about are having the time of their lives—­motor drives, tea parties, concerts, and all the rest of it!  The Prestwick people regularly fete them.  One of our V.A.D.’s here has asked a dozen of us out to tea at her own home to-morrow.  I wish I could go!  It’s the nurse who showed you in.  She’s ripping.”

“I’ve always heard ‘V.A.D.’ stands for ‘Very Attractive Damsel,’” laughed Winona.

“Don’t lose your heart before you’re twenty-one, Percy!” said Aunt Harriet, smiling quite indulgently.  “You’ve two and a half years left yet!”

“When a chap’s in the Army his age doesn’t count!” declared Percy with dignity.

Most of the beds in the ward were empty at present, their owners being outside in the garden.  Only four were occupied.  Each of these Tommies had his own little group of visitors, and was too busy talking to them to take much notice of anybody else.  Miss Beach spent a short time at Percy’s bedside, then, thinking that the brother and sister would like to be left alone together she expressed her intention of looking over the hospital, and went to find a V.A.D. to show her round.

“It was ever so decent of Aunt Harriet to bring you, Tiddleywinks!” said Percy.  “The mater said I mustn’t expect you to come!”

“Aunt Harriet’s a trump when you know her!”

“You used to call her a dragon.”

“I don’t now.”

“Look here!  I often wish I hadn’t burnt that paper of hers.  You know what I mean!  I’ve kept thinking about it while I’ve been lying here.  It was a blighter’s trick to do, when she was paying my school fees.  She ought to be told about it!  I feel that now.  You haven’t breathed anything, have you?”

“Not a word!  I promised, you remember.”

“You can keep a secret, Win.  I’ll say that for you!  Somehow I feel as if I want to make a clean breast of it.  Aunt Harriet’s done a lot for our family.  I’d tell her now, only very likely when she comes back a nurse will be with her.  It’s just tea-time.”