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. She made no comment therefore, and after a moment Toby spoke her last word on the subject with characteristic brevity. "There's only one rule to follow with men--that is, if you want any peace at all. Make up your mind and stick to it! If they don't like it, let 'em go to--" She checked suddenly, and coloured deeply under Maud's eyes--"I mean, let 'em do the other thing," she ended, on a note that somehow seemed to ask for pardon. "I see," said Maud gently, in a tone that conveyed it. Toby threw her a little smile, half-grateful and half-mischievous; and curiously in that moment a bond was formed between them which was destined to endure. CHAPTER VII THE PROMISE There was undoubtedly a frown on Jake's usually serene countenance when he walked up the great stable-yard a little later that evening and came upon Bunny lounging in a doorway with his hands in his pockets talking to one of the men. "Look here, young feller, I want a word with you," he said, with his customary directness, and laid a somewhat peremptory hand upon the boy's shoulder.