"I'm a damn' cad!" Bunny said with shaky vehemence, and pulled himself away with the words. "I can't help it. I don't see much of you now. And I do hate being left behind."
He turned his back on Jake and leaned dejectedly against the high mantelpiece. But Jake's arm went round his shoulders, giving him a comforting squeeze.
"Don't you know I'm trying to make a partner of you, my son?" he said in his soft voice. "You needn't be so mighty difficult to handle. What I'm on to now is more than a one-man job. I'm wanting all the help I can get."
Bunny laid a hot cheek against his hand. "You know I'd do anything for you, Jake," he said. He swallowed once or twice hard and faced round. "Anything under the sun," he said.
Jake's hand smote him the blow of good-fellowship. "I'm counting on--just that, sonny," he said.
He turned round with the words. Someone was entering the room.
"Hullo!" said Bunny. "Hullo, Maud!"
He moved to meet his sister with a curious new shyness. She looked pale, aloof, very sad.
"Jake has been telling you?" she said.
Bunny nodded. "It's rather great, isn't it?" he said.