at her host.

Jake was lighting his pipe. His face wore a faint smile. He was holding
Toby's animal as well as his own. "Aren't you going to ride again?" he
said.

"No," said Toby.

"Oh, come on!" Bunny pushed his horse forward without dismounting. "Glad
to see you, Charlie, but we must have one more gallop. Come on, Toby! Be
a sport!"

But Toby, still holding Saltash's sleeve, would not so much as look at
him. "Not coming," she said tersely.

Saltash laughed. Bunny coloured suddenly and hotly. "Oh, all right!" he
said, and, wheeling his horse, rode away.

"Now you've hurt his little feelings," observed Saltash.

"Who cares?" said Toby, and nestled closer, till with his sudden reckless
grin he thrust an arm about her shoulders.

"I'll tell you what it is, Nonette. You're getting spoilt all round.
Something will have to be done. Shall I take her away, Jake?"

"And bring me back when I'm good?" put in Toby eagerly.

He laughed and pinched her ear. "I shall want to keep you myself--when
you're good. I haven't yet found anyone to sew on buttons like you do.
No, _ma chere_, you'll have to stay and be caned for your sins. Jake is
a better schoolmaster than I am, being so eminently virtuous himself. I
hope you do cane her, Jake. I'm sure she needs it."

"No," Jake said, preparing to mount again. "I haven't tried that at
present."

Toby watched him a little wistfully as he moved away, leading her horse.
"I am trying to be good," she said. "He knows that."

"Yes, she's trying hard," Maud said very kindly. "Jake and I are going to
be proud of her some day."

Saltash's brows twisted humorously. "I wonder," he said. And then again
lightly he laughed. "Don't get too good, Nonette! I can't rise to it."

She turned swiftly, looking up into the derisive face above her with open
adoration in her own. "You!" she said. "You!"

"Well, what about me?" he said.

She coloured very deeply. "Nothing, sir, nothing! Only--you're so great!"

He flicked her cheek, grimacing hideously. "Is that your pretty way of
telling me I'm the biggest rotter you ever met?"

"Oh, no!" said Toby quickly and earnestly. "Oh no! I think you are--a
king. If--if anyone could make me believe in God, you could."

She spoke with a sincerity that held a hint of passion. The grimace
flicked out of Saltash's face like a picture from a screen. For a moment
he had the blank look of a man who has been hit, he knows not where. Then
with lightning swift