suddenness, he lifted his hand and smote his horse
sharply on the flank. In a moment he was being precipitated at a headlong
gallop down the hill. He went like the wind, and the enchanted wood
was left behind.

Riding up the further slope to the Castle a few minutes later, he was
hailed from behind and reined in to look back. A long-legged figure
detached itself from a clump of trees that shadowed the bailiff's house
and came racing in pursuit.

"Hi! Charlie! Don't be in such a deuce of a hurry! I'm going your way."

Saltash waited, not too patiently. "My good chap, you're dressed and I'm
not! I shall be late for my guests."

"What's it matter?" scoffed Bunny breathlessly, reaching his side. "Maud
and Jake don't count, and Toby is only a kid. I don't suppose she's ever
been out to dine before."

"She's old enough to begin," remarked Saltash, pushing on at a walk.

"Well, she is beginning," said Bunny, with a grin as he strode beside
him. "You haven't seen her for some weeks, have you? You'll see a
difference, and so will her father."

"How?" said Saltash briefly.

Bunny's grin became more pronounced. "Oh, it's chiefly clothes. Maud is
rather clever in that line, you know. I haven't seen a great deal of her
lately. She's generally scampering round on horseback with Jake. But
once or twice--with Maud--I've seen her look quite demure. She's really
getting almost good-looking," he added dispassionately.

Saltash flung a swift look downwards. "Don't you approve?"

Bunny shrugged his shoulders. "I don't see enough of her to care either
way. She's still a kid, you know,--quite a kid."

Saltash dropped the subject abruptly. "You're liking your job all right?"

"Rather!" Bunny made instant and enthusiastic reply. "It's just the sort
of thing I was made for. Old Bishop's a brick. We're getting quite fond
of one another."

"Sort of life you enjoy?" questioned Saltash.

"Oh, rather! I've always thought I'd like to manage a big estate. Wish
I'd got one of my own."

"All right. I'll adopt you," laughed Saltash. "You shall be the son of my
old age."

"Oh, don't be an ass!" protested Bunny. "Why on earth don't you get
married?"

Saltash's brows twisted wryly. "Afraid I've lived too long, _mon cher_.
If I had married your sister in the long ago, things might have been
vastly different. As it is, I see no prospect of changing my state. Think
it matters?"

"Well, it's rather a shame to let a good name die out," mai