“Are you painted?” said Bunny.  “You don’t look it.”

She made a vehement gesture of disgust.  “As soon as this show it over, I shall get into riding things and go like the—­like the—­”

“Like the dish when it ran away with the spoon,” suggested Bunny with a grin, as she paused.  “Well, if you’ll be the spoon, I’ll be the dish, and we’ll show ’em all a clean pair of heels.  Shall we?”

“I certainly won’t be the spoon,” said Toby with decision.  “You can find someone else to play that part.  Try Miss Melrose!  She doesn’t look as if she’d object.”

“She’s a very pretty girl,” said Bunny rather aggressively.

“Of course she’s a pretty girl.  It’s what she’s for.”  Toby’s chin went up.  “She couldn’t be anything else.”

Bunny laughed.  “Well, cheer up!  She’s not the only one on board.  Do you know any of these people?”

Toby shook her head promptly.  “And don’t want!  Aren’t they awful?  Oh, here’s Jake!  Wonder how much he’s enjoying himself.”

Whether Jake were enjoying himself or not was not apparent in his manner as he came up and shook hands with Bunny, then turned to lift his little girl on to his shoulder.

“Hold tight, Innocence!  What do you think of it all?”

“I think it’s lovely, Daddy,” she answered, clasping him closely.  “Does Mummy like it too?”

He smiled at the anxiety in her question.  “Guess she’ll come through it all right.  She’s not exactly keen on this sort of thing.  But we’re here, eh, Innocence?  That ought to make a difference.”

Old General Melrose turned sharply at the sound of the soft voice.  He had not noticed Jake until that moment.

“Why, Bolton!” he said.  “What are you doing here?”

Jake moved forward deliberately.  “Well,” he said, “I guess I’m here in support of my wife who has undertaken the chief part in the ceremony about to take place.”

The old soldier looked at him from under beetling brows.  “Ah!  Your wife!  That’s Maud Brian, isn’t it?  Somehow I always think of her as Maud Brian.  So she still keeps up the old friendship with Saltash!  I wonder you allow that.”

Jake’s red-brown eyes held a smile.  “She pleases herself, sir,” he said, “and—­she pleases me.”

“That a child of yours?” asked the General abruptly.  “But I needn’t ask.  She’s got Maud’s eyes.  Sheila, come and see this kiddie of Maud’s!”

He spoke imperiously over his shoulder, and Sheila turned in answer.  Her soft eyes kindled.

“Oh, what a darling!  How do you do, Mr. Bolton?  I know you well by name.  And this is your little girl?  What is her name?”

“Eileen,” whispered the child, clinging rather nervously to Jake’s shoulder.

“Innocence!” said Jake.

“Ah!  How sweet!” the girl said.  “I must get your mummy to bring you to see me.  Would you like to, I wonder?”

“I think so,” said Eileen shyly.