"But not such a delight to you?" suggested Saltash shrewdly.
Maud hesitated momentarily. "I love her of course," she said then. "But—though I have tried to make her feel at ease—I think she is a little afraid of me—afraid anyhow to be quite natural in my presence."
"But are we any of us that?" protested Saltash. "Are we not all on our best behaviour in the audience-chamber?"
Maud sighed again. "They are all great pals," she said irrelevantly. "She and Bunny are terribly reckless. I hope they won't break their necks before they have done."
"Or their hearts?" suggested Saltash, looking mischievous.
She smiled. "I don't think there is much danger of that, anyhow at present. She is a positive child, Charlie,—as young as Eileen in many ways, or perhaps younger. Shall we walk down to the field and look at them?"
"Your servant, madam!" said Saltash readily.
He was on his feet in an instant, and she realized that he had been chafing to go since the moment of his arrival.
"You take a great interest in her," she remarked, as they walked along the terrace.
He made his most appalling grimace. "I have never had an infant to look after before," he said "And—I have to make my report to Larpent."