"Reckon she's half afraid of me," said Jake. "What reason did she give for not going with Lord Saltash?"
"Oh, none. She just said we couldn't. Charlie wasn't best pleased about it. Charlie can be rather hot stuff when he isn't pleased."
Jake uttered a dry laugh. "Did he make himself unpleasant?"
"No. But he cleared out almost at once. You see, he always used to be able to twist Maud round his little finger--till she broke with him."
Jake's arms suddenly grew tense about the slim boyish body he held. "Say, young feller! Will you tell me something?" he said.
"Of course! If I can," said Bunny.
"Just this--only this," said Jake, his voice sunk to a whisper. "Have you any real reason--any good reason--for believing that Maud still cares for this old flame of hers? Honestly now! Was there any truth in what you said downstairs?"
"Oh, Jake, I'm beastly sorry I said it!" Bunny turned a distressed face upwards, pressing his hot forehead hard against Jake's neck.
"All right. You needn't answer." Jake's words seemed to come from between his teeth. "It's what I suspected all along. It won't make any difference in the end, so you needn't be upset about it. I always knew I was taking chances."
"She'd soon forget him if you started making love to her," Bunny assured him. "Why don't you, Jake? Why don't you?"