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. "Maybe you'll come and see her first," said Jake. "I should like you to see the stud, sir. We've got some stock that I think would interest you." "That would be delightful," Sheila said, in her gracious way. "We are here for another fortnight. I had no idea it was such a lovely place." "Have you seen Burchester?" asked Bunny. She turned to him. "Never. I want to see it. Lord Saltash said something about it the other day, so I am hoping there is a chance of doing so. You are very fond of it, Sir Bernard?" "Yes. It's my job just now. I'm head keeper," laughed Bunny. "Miss Larpent thinks I'm very inefficient, but I do my best." "I never said so," said Toby. She flushed at his obvious intention of drawing her into the group; but Sheila Melrose at once held out a welcoming hand. "Miss Larpent, do you know I can't help feeling that I've seen you somewhere before. Yet I can't quite remember where. Could it have been at Valrosa?" "Oh, no," said Toby. "It couldn't possibly have been there."