d to see Maud when this show is over?"

"Depends," grinned Saltash.

"What's it depend on?" Bunny linked an arm in his and drew him forward;
they were friends of many years' standing.

Saltash looked at him with his odd eyes that always seemed to be
speculating like a monkey's, as to how far his next jump would carry him.
"Depends upon Jake of course. Your good brother-in-law doesn't always
invite the wolf into the fold, _mon cher_."

"As if you needed an invitation!" ejaculated Bunny impatiently. "Well, I
invite you anyway. I know Maud will be awfully disappointed if you don't
come and tell her all about your adventure. We were talking about you
only this morning."

"Really!" said Saltash. "Would it be rude to ask what you were saying?"

Bunny's thin face flushed. "You're welcome to know so far as I'm
concerned," he said bluntly. "I always stick up for you, Charlie."

"Do you? _Mais vraiment!_" protested Saltash. "I am touched beyond words.
And what says Brother Jake to that?"

"Oh, Jake says I'm an ass, but he's quite decent about you,
Charlie,--rather fond of you in fact. Don't run away with that idea!"
begged Bunny, turning still redder. "Only people jaw a lot about you, you
know. No one ever can be content to mind their own business."

"He'd be a fool who was," said Saltash. "There's no such thing as
independent action in this world. We all hang to each other like swarming
bees. So you've been sticking up for me, have you? And what says Sister
Maud?"

Bunny broke into a sudden laugh. "Oh, she's decided to reserve judgment.
You'll have to come and see her. You really must. And the kids too--four
of 'em now. The eldest is a darling."

"Eileen! Oh, I know Eileen," said Saltash. "I was actually allowed to
have her to tea once at the Castle. I am not supposed to have such a
venomous effect upon quite small girls as upon young men of two or three
and twenty."

"Oh, shut up!" Bunny growled again. "There's Jake, look! Come and speak
to him!"

There was nothing ornamental about Jake Bolton. Short, thick-set,
powerful as a bull and with something of a bull's unswerving contempt for
all obstacles in his path, with red-brown eyes that were absolutely level
in their regard and mercilessly keen, such was the man who had married
Maud Brian eight years before, practically in the teeth of Saltash who
had wooed her in her girlhood. There was no feud between them. Their
enmity was long since dead and buried. Saltash c