worthy Jake to that? Stop! I know what he said. He said. 'You can call
yourself by any fool name you please, but you've got to go to Church
like a respectable citizen if I say so.' Wasn't that it?"

"Something like it," Maud admitted. "How did you know?"

"Oh, I know Jake," said Saltash dryly. "And what happened then? She
refused?"

"Yes, she refused. She was frightened, but she refused. She looked as if
she were going to run away, but in the end Jake went off with her to the
stables saying they would go to-night. They were quite friends when I saw
them again, but she had been crying, poor little thing. I wish I could
help her, but somehow I can't get near enough. Jake seems to understand
her best."

"Wonder if she will give in?" said Saltash.

They were passing through a shrubbery that led to the training-field, and
there came the quick thud of hoofs galloping on short turf as they
approached.

"I don't think there is much doubt about that," Maud said.

Saltash laughed again mockingly. "Oh, we all know Jake is invincible,
virtuous rectitude incarnate. But you can't hammer a girl into submission
like a boy and I rather fancy that Toby is not wholly ignorant of the art
of getting her own way."

"Jake never hammered Bunny," Maud said quietly, "But he manages him
notwithstanding."

They rounded a curve and came upon the gate that led into the field. The
galloping hoofs were close to them. As they reached the corner two riders
flashed past at full speed. One of them--Bunny--lay on his horse's neck,
yelling wild encouragement to his mount. The other,--a slight, childish
figure--was kneeling on the saddle like a small, crouching creature,
perfectly poised and wholly unafraid. As the horse that carried her
dropped to a canter on the hill, she got to her feet with absolute ease,
and stood, arms out and swaying to the animal's motion, till, as they
rounded another curve, she dropped to the saddle again, and passed from
sight, following in Bunny's tracks.

"Quite a pretty exhibition!" remarked Saltash. "Where is Jake?"

Jake himself appeared at the moment riding soberly, mounted on his
favourite horse, The Hundredth Chance. He greeted Saltash with a smile
and jumped to the ground to join them at the gate.

"They'll be round again directly. Just riding off their spirits," he
explained in his easy drawl. "You motored over, my lord?"

Saltash nodded with a touch of impatience. He was watching with restless
eyes for