“How odd of her!” said Maud.

He sat down and took up the paper; his face was grim.  “I shall know why presently.  Read your letter.  I’m in no hurry.”

Maud opened the letter from Saltash and there fell a brief silence.

It was broken by the sound of light feet outside the door, and Toby, still wearing riding-dress, her face flushed and laughing, swung into the room.  “I’m so sorry I’m late,” she said.  “The little fiend ran away with us, and we had a gigantic tussle.  Do you mind if I sit down in these things?”

She went round to Maud to kiss her, and stopped as Maud’s arm came about her.

“Do you mind?” she said again.

“My dear,” Maud said very gently, “Jake is going to scold you for riding that half-broken colt by yourself.  It was very risky.  Why did you do it?”

“Oh, is Jake cross?” said Toby.  She looked across at him with an imp of mischief in her eyes.  Then, as he still studied his paper, abruptly she left Maud and went round to him.

“Cheer up, Jake!” she said.  “Don’t throw a cloud on the proceedings!”

Her voice was half impudent, half wheedling.  Jake looked up, his eyes very direct and somewhat stern.

“You sit down and have some breakfast!” he said.  “I’ll talk to you afterwards.”

She obeyed him with a slight shrug of the shoulders.  “P’raps I shan’t stay to be talked to,” she remarked, as she did so.  “I’ve promised to take Eileen and Molly out as soon as I’ve had my tub, so if it’s going to be a lengthy wigging, you’d better begin now.”

Jake did not begin.  He turned deliberately from the bravado of her look, and began to take the covers off the breakfast dishes.

Toby leaned back provocatively in her chair, and whistled under her breath.  She was plainly in a dare-devil mood, but it was not her custom to dare Jake.

“What have you done to your hands?” he said, as she reached out for the plate he offered her.

She coloured deeply.  “Nothing—­I mean—­nothing serious.  I often get my hands scratched.”

“Why don’t you tell me the truth?” said Jake.

Maud looked up from her letter.  “It is as I thought.  Charlie wants us to go down to Fairharbour to-morrow.  He is getting together a luncheon party on board the yacht.  The Melroses will be there and some of the polo people staying at The Anchor.  Jake, you will come and support me, won’t you?”

Jake shook his head.  “Bunny can do that job, my girl.  I’ve got to get ready for Goodwood.  Forest Fire is going to make his mark there.”

“Oh, bother Forest Fire!” said Maud.  “I want you.”

“What for?” said Jake.

“Well, General Melrose knows you.  He was talking of you down at the Club the other afternoon.  And I want him to meet you—­with me.  Please come, Jake!” Maud spoke persuasively.

“All right,” said Jake.

“You will?”