logetic, turned to his brother-in-law.

"I can't help being decent to Charlie, Jake. I don't care a damn what
they say."

Jake gave him a straight look from under his rough red brows. "I'm not
blaming you," he said.

CHAPTER II

MAUD BOLTON

Someone was singing a baby lullaby very softly in the beautiful room with
the bay window that looked straight over the rolling down. It was a very
sweet voice that sang, and sometimes the low notes were a little
tremulous as though some tender emotion thrilled through the song. The
singer was lying back in a rocking-chair close to the bay-window with her
baby in her arms.

Beyond the long, undulating slope there stretched a silver line of sea
that gleamed with a still radiance in the light of the dying day. And
Maud Bolton, who once had been that proud and desolate girl Maud Brian,
gazed out upon it with happy, dreaming eyes. It had been a hot spring day
and she was tired, but it was a pleasant weariness, and the little body
that nestled on her breast brought sheer rapture to her woman's heart. It
was the baby boy for whom for years she had longed in vain.

There came a slight sound at an open door behind her that led to another
room. She turned her head with a quick smile.

"Jake!"

He came, treading softly, and stood beside her. The failing light on his
rugged face showed it strangely softened, almost transformed.

He stooped after a moment and kissed her. "Why isn't the little 'un in
bed?" he said, with his eyes on the sleeping baby-face.

The smile still lingered about her lips. "I thought he and I would both
of us have a little treat tonight. Do you know he is six months old
today?"

Jake's square fingers caressed the baby's placid forehead. "Yes, I know,"
he said.

Maud uttered a faint sigh. "And so--according to the law of the Medes and
Persians--he is not going to sleep with his mother any longer. He is to
be banished to the nursery. But I thought I would put him to sleep
first."

Jake's look came to her face. "There's no law that I know of," he said in
his slow way. "Keep him in here if you want to!"

She lifted her eyes to his--beautiful eyes, deeply violet. "Thank you,
Jake. But it's all settled, and he won't mind."

"He doesn't matter so much," said Jake.

She smiled and laid her cheek against his arm. "No, it's all right. Nurse
understands him. I won't have him again unless he's ill. I should have to
then."

"Of course," said Jake. He be