sent her absence. But when at length the hoot
of the General's car warned him of his visitors' advent as they turned in
at the gate, he was suddenly conscious of a feeling of relief that he was
alone. Toby was not at her ease with them. She fancied they disapproved
of her, and whether the fancy were justified or not he was glad that she
was not there to meet them. He determined to get the business over as
quickly as possible.

Sheila in her dainty summer attire was looking even prettier than usual,
and almost against his will Bunny noted the fact. Against his will also,
his barely-acknowledged feeling of resentment vanished before he had been
five minutes in her company. Sheila's charms went beyond mere prettiness.
She had the tact and ready ease of manner which experience of the world
alone can impart. She was sympathetic and quick of understanding. Without
flattering, she possessed the happy knack of setting those about her at
their ease. It was very rarely that she was roused to indignation;
perhaps only Saltash knew how deep her indignation could be. And he was
not the man to impart the knowledge to anyone else.

So on that warm September afternoon in her gracious way she restored
Bunny's good humour and reinstated their friendship without effort,
without apparent consciousness of any strain upon it. They went through
the stables, and Bunny displayed his favourites with an enthusiasm of
which he had not believed himself capable a little earlier. The stud had
always been his great delight from boyhood, and both the General and his
daughter took a keen interest in all they saw.

The time passed with astounding rapidity, and the chiming of the great
stable-clock awoke Bunny at length to the fact that the afternoon was
practically over.

"Maud will think we are never going in to tea," he said, with a laugh,
turning back from the gate into the training field where they had been
inspecting some of the colts. "You'll come round to the house, won't you?
She is expecting you--said I was to be sure to bring you in."

Sheila smiled and accepted the invitation. "We were hoping to see Mrs.
Bolton to say good-bye," she said. "Is Miss Larpent not here to-day?"

"Yes, she's out riding," Bunny said. "She may be in any moment. It's a
pity Jake is away. He is expected back some time next week."

"Yes, I'm sorry to have missed him," said the General. "Tell him that
I've enjoyed seeing the animals, and I think he has a very fine s