society his chances of
victory would be very greatly reduced. He wished he could have seen more
of Captain Larpent and possibly have enlisted his sympathy, but he had
left the Castle with Saltash, and even Toby herself professed ignorance
of his whereabouts. It was evident that they had never seen much of one
another, and Bunny realized that he would look in vain for help in that
quarter.

He doggedly maintained his resolve to win her none the less, and his
visits to his sister's house were frequent. He spoke no word on the
subject either to Maud or Jake. Toby should not feel that he had in any
sense taken a mean advantage. But he never looked at her without the
quick longing to take her in his arms rising in his heart, and though the
longing was never satisfied he believed that she was aware of it. She was
always friendly with him and never embarrassed in his presence. Yet he
had a strong feeling that by some subtle means she was holding him off.
He bided his time with what patience he could muster, but he was
determined it should not be for long.

The work on Saltash's estate had done him good. He was keen to prove
himself, and the vigorous, out-door life suited him. Jake saw with
satisfaction that he was developing a self-reliance and resourcefulness
that had not characterized him formerly. He had given up racing according
to his promise, and the life he now led was after Jake's own heart, an
existence of wholesome activity that was making of him exactly the type
of man that he desired him to become. The boy was a gentleman and there
was fine stuff in him. Jake gloried in the fact. There had always been in
Bunny qualities that appealed to him very strongly, and it was in a large
measure due to his influence that those qualities had ripened as they
had.

He did not accompany Maud and Toby down to Fairharbour, for business kept
him at the Stables. "Bring him back with you!" he said to his wife at
parting, and she smiled and promised. Bunny was never difficult to
persuade.

But when they reached the polo-ground he was in the midst of a crowd of
visitors from the hotel, and it seemed at first as if he would have no
time to spare for them. He very speedily detached himself, however, at
sight of them and came up with an eager greeting.

"So awfully glad you've come. There are some people here you used to
know, Maud, in the old days. Friends of Charlie's too. The Melroses--you
remember them, don't you?"

The name ca