She turned from him to look again upon the advancing couple. They were crossing the gangway alone. Toby, slim, girlish, her wide blue eyes shining like the eyes of an awakened child, Bunny close behind her, touching her, his hand actually on her shoulder, possession and protection in every line of him. He was murmuring into her ear as they came, and his face was alight with the glory which no earthly lamp can kindle.
"Behold!" Saltash said again, and moved forward in his sudden fashion to receive them.
He met them as they stepped on board, and in a moment they were the centre of observation. The buzz of talk died down as the general attention focussed upon them. Maud was aware of Jake standing squarely behind her, and she put out a hand to him which he grasped and held.
Saltash was laughing, but they could not hear what he said. Only in a moment he had taken a hand of Bunny's and a hand of Toby's and joined them together. Toby's eyes were lifted to his face. She was smiling with lips that trembled, and Maud's heart gave a great throb of pity, she could not have said wherefore. She had a deep longing to go and gather the child into her arms and comfort her.
Then Toby too was laughing, and she heard Saltash's voice. "These things only happen properly once in a blue moon, ma chère. I give you both my blessing for the second time to-day. I wish you better luck than has ever come my way."
He threw a gay malicious glance towards the bridge, where Larpent stood like a grim Viking looking down upon the scene.
"Come!" he said. "We had better go and tell your daddy next!"
He led them lightly forward, and the crowd opened out with jests and laughter to let them pass.
Toby walked between the two men, very pale but still smiling—a smile that was curiously like the smile of a child that is trying not to cry.
"Oh, poor little thing!" Maud whispered suddenly and drew back beside
Jake as if she could not bear to look.