shrank with a quick gasp of pain when Larpent unexpectedly touched
the injury.

"Don't hurt the child!" said Saltash sharply.

Larpent smiled his faint, sardonic smile, and turned away.

Toby laid his cheek with a winning, boyish gesture against the hand that
held him. "Don't make me go to bed, sir!" he pleaded. "I'll be miserable
in bed."

Saltash looked down at him with eyebrows comically working. "It is rather
a hole--that cabin of yours," he conceded. "You can lie on the couch in
my stateroom if you like. Don't get up to mischief, that's all! I'm
responsible for you, remember."

Toby thanked him humbly, swearing obedience and good behaviour. The
couch in Saltash's cabin was immediately under a porthole, and the fresh
sea-air blew straight in. He stretched his meagre person upon it with
a sigh of contentment, and Saltash smiled down upon him. "That's right.
You'll do there. Let's see! What did you say your name was?"

"Toby, sir."

"Toby Barnes or Toby Wright?" said Saltash.

The boy started, turned very red, then very white, opened his mouth to
speak, shut it tightly, and said nothing.

Saltash took out his cigarette-case and opened it with great
leisureliness. The smile still played about his ugly features as he chose
a cigarette. Finally he snapped the lid and looked down again at his
_protege_.

"Or Toby nothing?" he said.

Toby's eyes came up to his, though the effort to raise them drew his face
painfully.

"Whatever you like, my lord," he said faintly. "I'll answer to anything."

Saltash's own face was curiously softened. He looked down at Toby for
some seconds in silence, idly tapping the cigarette he held against the
case. Then: "How old are you?" he asked suddenly.

"Sixteen, sir." Toby's eyes with their dumb pleading were still anxiously
raised to his.

Saltash bent abruptly and put his hand very lightly over them. "All
right. Don't hurt yourself!" he said kindly. "You're young enough to
chuck the past and start again."

Toby's claw-like hands came up and closed upon his wrist. "Wish I could,
sir," he whispered with lips that quivered. "Haven't had much of a
chance--so far, sir."

"All right," Saltash said again. "It's up to you. I shan't interfere.
Don't expect too much of me; that's all I ask! I'm not considered exactly
a suitable companion for young things like you."

He drew his hand away and lighted his cigarette. Toby turned his face
into the cushion and lay very still.

Lar