to a high bough of the old beech
tree; I don't know in the least how she did it. None of the party seemed
to think there was any cause for alarm till Jake came on the scene. He
fetched them down with a ladder--all but Toby who went higher and pelted
him with beech nuts till he retreated--at my urgent request."

"And what happened after that?" questioned Saltash, with his eyes still
upon the dancing figure. "From what I have observed of Jake, I should say
that an ignominious retreat is by no means in his line."

Maud laughed a little. "Oh, Jake can be generous when he likes. He had it
out with her of course, but he wasn't too severe. Ah, look! She is going
to jump the sun dial!"

Sheila turned to her. "Surely you are nervous! If she fell, the little
one might be terribly hurt."

"She won't fall," Maud said with confidence.

And even as she spoke, Toby leapt the sun dial, leaving the ground as a
bird leaves it, without effort or any sort of strain, and alighting again
as a bird alights from a curving flight with absolute freedom and a
natural adroitness of movement indescribably pleasant to watch.

"A very pretty circus trick!" declared the General, and even Bunny's
clouded brow cleared a little though he said nothing.

"A circus trick indeed!" said Sheila, as if speaking to herself. "How on
earth did she do it?"

"She is like a boy in many ways," said Maud.

Sheila looked at her. "Yes. She is just like a boy, or at least--" Her
look went further, reached Saltash who lounged on Maud's other side, and
fell abruptly away.

As Toby came up with the two children, all of them flushed and laughing,
Toby herself in her white frock looking like a child just out of school,
she rose and turned to Bunny.

"We ought to go now," she said. "I am going to fetch the car round for
Dad."

"I'll do it," he said.

But she went with him as he had known she would. They left the group at
the window and moved away side by side in silence as they had walked that
afternoon.

Saltash stood up and addressed Maud. "I'm going too. Bunny is dining with
me tonight. I suppose you won't come?"

She gave him her hand, smiling. "I can't thank you. Ask me another day!
You and Bunny will really get on much better without me."

"Impossible!" he declared gallantly, but he did not press her.

He turned to the General and took his leave.

Toby and the two children walked the length of the terrace with him, all
chattering at once. She seemed