“Hullo!” said one abruptly, it was Bunny’s speaking with careless friendliness.  “Stand still a minute!  There’s an immense green caterpillar waving to me from your hat-brim.”

A voice that was like a boy’s, dear, bell-like, made instant response.  “Oh hell!  Do take it off!”

Maud started wide awake with involuntary shrinking.

There came a chuckle from Bunny and, after a pause and the eloquent crunch of a heel on the gravel, his voice on a note of laughter.  “I didn’t say it!”

“Great Scott!” ejaculated the clear boyish tones.  “Do you mean you’re shocked?”

“Not at all,” said Bunny courteously.

“Well then, what does it matter who said it?” demanded the other.

“It doesn’t matter,” said Bunny, still suppressing merriment.  “Except that it isn’t said in this house.”

“Oh damn!” said the newcomer disconsolately.  “Then I shall soon be sent back in disgrace.”

“Cheer up!” said Bunny.  “We don’t convict on a first offence as a rule in this country.”

“But I shall never remember!” groaned the other, and for the first time the words held a note that was not wholly boyish, it sounded wistful, even rather piteous.  “People’s ways are all so different.  It’s rather infernal—­trying to please everybody, you know, Bunny.”

“Never mind!” said Bunny, in a brotherly tone.  “I’ll kick you every time I see it coming if you like.”

“Will you really?  That would be jolly decent of you.”  The wistfulness vanished in a laugh that was quick and musical, wholly spontaneous.

“You bet I will!” said Bunny.

“Right O!  Mind you do!  Now get out of the way and see me jump that rose tree!”

There followed the light scamper of feet, and Maud raised herself swiftly and leaned forth in time to see an athletic little figure in navy blue wearing a jaunty Panama hat, skim like a bird over a sweeping Dorothy Perkins just coming into bloom and alight on one leg with the perfect poise of a winged Mercury on the other side.

CHAPTER VI

HOW TO MANAGE MEN

Bunny’s lanky form followed and also cleared the rose-tree with infinitely less grace, and again the girl laughed, her wide blue eyes alight with mirth.

“What an antic!  I thought you were going to pull up the rose bush with your heels!  What are you doing that for?”

Bunny’s hands were on her shoulders.  He was plainly enjoying himself thoroughly.  “I’m feeling for the wings,” he explained.  “I’ll swear you never jumped it.  Where do you keep ’em?”

She drew herself away from his touch.  “No, I haven’t got any.  They don’t grow on people like me.  Don’t let’s stay here!  I feel as if we’re being watched.”

It was then that Maud spoke from her window in her quiet gentle voice that yet held a certain authority.

“Bunny, bring our visitor up to see me!”