As she moved a flame shot up in response to his efforts and he turned, still kneeling, and looked at her.
"Say, you've had a real good night for once," he said in a voice of soft approval. "How do you feel yourself this morning?"
Maud, crimson-faced, searched for words and found none. It was one of the most difficult moments she had ever had to endure.
Jake glanced at the fire, pushed the poker into it, and got to his feet. He came to her side.
"Don't be mad with me!" he pleaded humbly. "Someone had to light the fire, and old Lovelace is busy."
He smiled as he said it, and when Jake smiled he was hard to resist. Maud suddenly found the difficulties of the situation swept away. With Jake in a docile mood she found it comparatively easy to deal.
"Thank you," she said after a moment, and with slight hesitation extended a hand to him. "It was kind of you to light the fire though I could have done very well without it."
He took the hand very respectfully. She even had a faint suspicion that he also was secretly embarrassed. "The room faces due north," he said. "It had to be done, though I hoped you wouldn't wake."
"Thank you," she said again, and withdrew her hand from his steady, all-enveloping grasp. "How--how is Bunny?"
He smiled again with more assurance. His strong white teeth were very good to see. "He had a splendid night. I've got him up and dressed. He is downstairs, waiting for you to take him out."