“What a pity you went!” said Maud.

“Not at all,” said Bunny.  “We enjoyed it.  It’s fun doing naughty things sometimes, isn’t it,—­er—­Miss Larpent?”

“Don’t be an ass!” said Toby tersely.

Maud raised her brows, but Bunny grinned with delight.  “Thank you Toby!  I take the hint.  There shall be no more ceremony between us.  Ah!  There come the children along the path by the summerhouse!” he sprang to the window and sent forth a yell, turning back almost instantly to say, “Sorry, Maud!  I’m afraid I forgot your head.  How is it?”

He did not wait for her reply, but leaned out again immediately to address the advancing children with noisy gayety.

Toby looked up at Maud, hesitated, and rose.  “Let us go and have tea with the children!” she said.  “It will be quieter for you.”

Maud put out a gentle hand to her.  “No, dear.  You stay with me.  Bunny may if he likes!”

This time Toby’s fingers closed tightly upon her own.  “Sure?” said Toby.

“Quite sure,” said Maud, smiling at her.

Toby turned sharply and pinched Bunny’s elbow as he leaned from the window.  He drew himself in and stared at her.

“You’re making too much noise,” she told him curtly.  “You go and racket downstairs!”

Bunny’s eyes widened for a second in indignant amazement, then abruptly he threw up his chin and laughed.  “I like you!” he declared.  “You’re the cockiest thing in girls I’ve ever seen!”

Toby pulled at his elbow like a small, persistent dog.  “Go on!” she commanded.  “Go down to them!  Mrs. Bolton and I want to have our tea alone.  I’ll come and play with you presently—­if you’re good.”

It was spoken wholly without coquetry, much as an elder brother might speak to a younger.  It was plain that she meant to have her way, though Maud, who knew that there was a very strong mixture of stubbornness in Bunny, wondered much if she would get it.  Amusement, however, kept the upper hand with him.  Toby’s treatment evidently appealed strongly to his sense of humour.  Perhaps her determination also made its impression upon him, for after a little more chaff on his part and brisk insistence on hers he departed, laughing, to join the children.

Toby saw him to the door and returned calm and triumphant.

“Well done!” said Maud.  “You know how to deal with spoilt children evidently.”

Toby looked at her sharply as she sat down, almost as if she expected a double meaning to the words.

“Do you mean men?” she said, and for an instant her childish face wore a look of contempt.  “Oh, anyone can manage men—­given a fair chance.  There’s not much cleverness needed for that.”

She spoke with the decision of one who knew, and in spite of the difference of years between them Maud could not question her confidence.  She had a curious feeling that—­either by experience or intuition—­this girl knew more than she.