He took up a breakfast tray himself to his wife's room, sternly removing his two small daughters Molly and Betty, whom he found tussling like kittens on her bed, and installing Eileen the eldest, who crept down like a bright-eyed mouse from the big chair by the pillow at his coming, as her mother's keeper. Eileen was his darling; a shy child, gentle but curiously determined, protective in her attitude towards Maud, reserved towards himself. Jake was wont to say with a laugh that he was by no means sure that his eldest daughter approved of him, but he knew in his heart that her love for him was the strongest force in her small being. Bunny was wont to be impatient with her because she was afraid of the horses, with the result that she would never go near them in his company, but she would follow her father wherever he went among them without a question. It was very rarely that she confided in him, but she always liked to hold his hand. She stood beside him now in silence while he waited upon Maud, and presently, while Maud drank the strong tea he had brought her, her small hand found its way into his. He looked down at her, squeezing it kindly. "We must take care of the mother today, little 'un. She's been working too hard." "I'll take care of her, Daddy," said Eileen. "And keep out Molly and Betty," pursued Jake. "Yes, Daddy, I'll do that." Maud smiled from her pillows. "My little policeman!" she said. "I believe she'd keep her daddy out too if she thought it advisable," laughed Jake. Eileen's fingers tightened about his, but she did not contradict him. Only the violet eyes so like her mother's looked up at him very pleadingly, and he stooped in a moment and kissed her. "All right. Daddy understands." And Eileen smiled a shy, pleased smile without words. The sound of the telephone-bell in the hall made Maud start with a swift contradiction of the brows. "That's probably Charlie, Jake, I ought to answer him." "Don't you worry yourself!" said Jake, turning to the door. "I'll answer him myself." He was gone before she could say anything further, moving without haste but with a decision there was no gainsaying, and Maud heaved a sigh and relaxed against her pillows. It was certainly a relief to leave it to him. He returned a few minutes later, faintly smiling, sat down by her side and drew Eileen between his knees. "Well," he said. "I guess it's all fixed up. We're going to give you a nursery governess, Innocence. I hope you'll treat her with respect." "Oh, but, Jake--" protested Maud. He turned to her. "Yes, she's going to make herself useful. I don't believe in anyone living in idleness. We'll begin as we mean to go on, and she's got to help. I told his lordship so. If she doesn't suit,--well, I guess she'll go back where she came from. I told him that too." "What did he say?" questioned Maud. "He agreed of course." Jake's tone was ironical. "Said she was nothing but a child herself. He was very emphatic on that point."