"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.