"Or hinted it even—it was perfectly hateful of him! I shall go and tell him so!"
Maud made as if she would release herself from his hold, but he restrained her.
"No—no, my girl! You keep calm! I can hold my own with Bunny, and he didn't mean any harm. I asked Saltash all right, and he's coming."
"Against your will," said Maud.
"No. Against my judgment, maybe. Not against my will. I've no objection to entertaining him if you wish it. You and I don't quarrel over trifles like Saltash."
Jake's tone was humorously tender. He patted her flushed cheek in a conciliatory fashion. She turned very swiftly and kissed his hand.
"Thank you, Jake—darling. But—you are master in this house, remember.
No one enters it without your consent."
"Not even Saltash?" smiled Jake.
"Not even—Bunny!" said Maud, still breathing resentment.
He took her gently by the shoulder. "Look here, my girl! I won't have you say a word to the boy about this, see? I didn't know you'd flare up like that or I shouldn't have spoken. He didn't mean it that way. If he had, I'd have punched his head. And after all," his eyes smiled suddenly into hers, "I do live on my wife's bounty, don't I? Wouldn't I be driving cows on the other side of the Atlantic without it?"