Maud was conscious of an abrupt jerk from Toby on her other side, and she laid a hand on her arm with the kindly intention of drawing her into the conversation. But the next instant feeling tension under her hand, she turned to look at her, and was surprised to see that Toby was staring out across the field with wide, strained eyes. She looked so white that Maud had a moment of sharp anxiety. "Is anything the matter, dear?" she whispered. An odd little tremor went through Toby. She spoke with an effort. "I thought he was off his pony that time, didn't you?" She kept her eyes upon Bunny who was coming back triumphant. Maud smiled. "Oh, I don't think there is much danger of that. Miss Melrose was talking about Valrosa. You were there too last winter, weren't you?" The colour mounted in Toby's face. She turned almost defiantly. "Just for a day or two. I was at school at Geneva. I went there to join my father." "I was at school at Geneva a few years ago," said Sheila Melrose. "You didn't go to Mademoiselle Denise, I suppose?" "No," said Toby briefly. "Madame Beaumonde." "I never heard of her," said Sheila. "It must have been after I left." Toby nodded. "I wasn't there long. I've never been anywhere long. But I've left school now, and I'm going to do as I like." "A very wise resolution!" commented a laughing voice behind her. "It's one of the guiding principles of my life." All the party turned, Toby with a quick exclamation muffled at birth. Saltash, attired in a white yachting suit and looking more than usually distinguished in his own fantastic fashion, stood with his hand on the back of Toby's chair. "Quite a gathering of old friends!" he declared, smiling impartially upon all. General Melrose stretched a welcoming hand to him. "Hullo, Saltash! Where on earth have you sprung from? Or are you fallen straight out of the skies?" "Like Lucifer, son of the morning!" laughed Saltash. "Well, I haven't sprung and I haven't fallen. I have simply arrived." Toby was on her feet. "Come and sit down!" she said in a low voice. He shook his head. "No, no, _ma chérie_. I will stand behind you. Miss Melrose, my humble regards to you. Is the black mark still against my name?" Sheila looked at him with a touch of _hauteur_ that somehow melted into a smile. She had learnt her lesson at Valrosa, and there was nothing to add thereto. This man was never in earnest, and he had never intended her to think him so. "I banned you as bold and bad long ago," she said. "I don't remember that you have done anything to change the impression." He laughed lightly, enigmatically. "Nothing in your presence, I fear. The Fates have always been sportive so far as I was concerned. But really I'm not such a bad sort now-a-days, am I, Mrs. Bolton?" Maud smiled upon him. "Not so bad, I think. But please don't ask me to be your sponsor! I really couldn't play the part."