y. "I'm going now."

"All right." Saltash's hand fell. "I give you credit for one thing,
Jake," he said. "You haven't offered to take her off my hands. For that
piece of forbearance I congratulate you. Do you want to see her before
you go?"

"Not specially," said Jake.

Saltash's eyes followed him with a look half-malicious, half-curious.
"Nor to send her a message?" he questioned.

"No." Jake's tone was brief.

"You're not wanting to offer her a safe harbour when her present
anchorage fails her?" jested Saltash.

Jake turned at the door as one goaded. "When that happens," he said very
deliberately. "I guess she'll be past any help from me, poor kid!"

Saltash's black brows descended. He scowled hideously for a moment. Then,
"I congratulate you again," he said coolly. "You are just beginning to
see things--as they are."

Jake made a brief sound that might have indicated contempt and opened the
door. He went out with finality, and Saltash listened to the tread of his
retreating feet with a grin of sheer cynical triumph.

"So," he said lightly, "the villain scores at last!"

But as he turned towards the other room, the cynicism passed from his
face. He stood for a moment or two motionless at the door; then broke
into a careless whistle and opened it.

CHAPTER III

A WIFE IS DIFFERENT

"Has he gone?" said Toby eagerly. She came into the room with a swift
glance around. "What did he say? What did he do? Was he angry?"

"I really don't know," Saltash said, supremely unconcerned. "He went.
That's the main thing."

Toby looked at him critically. "You were so quiet, both of you. Was there
a row?"

"Were you listening?" said Saltash.

She coloured, and smiled disarmingly. "Part of the time--no, all the
time. But I didn't hear anything--at least not much. Nothing that
mattered. Are you angry?"

He frowned upon her, but his eyes reassured. "I told you to smoke a
cigarette."

"I'm sorry," said Toby meekly. "Shall I smoke one now?"

He pinched her ear. "No. We'll go out. You've got to shop. First though,
I've got something for you. I'm not sure you deserve it, but that's a
detail. Few of us ever do get our deserts in this naughty world."

"What is it?" said Toby.

Her bright eyes questioned him. She looked more than ever like an eager
boy. He pulled a leather case out of his pocket and held it out to her.

"Oh, what is it?" she said, and coloured more deeply. "You
haven't--haven't--been buying