Maud made a sudden quick gesture. "Bunny! How curious that you should say that!"
"Why?" Bunny opened his eyes in surprise.
"Oh, never mind! It reminded me of something--something rather big--I once heard in a church here." Maud gently passed on as though it were a matter too sacred for discussion. "Perhaps you're right, dear. Perhaps there is happiness to be got out of it. Anyhow we'll try, won't we? Won't we, Jake?"
There was almost a note of entreaty in her voice; but she received no answer. She turned sharply. Jake had gone.
"Never mind!" said Bunny, quick to console. "He's busy. Letters or something. But you've got me. Say, Maud, you'll be able to keep the mother above water now. That's rather a mercy anyway."
He almost forced her into the channel of his own cheery speculations with the reflection that if it wasn't decent at least it was wholesome.
But when he looked back upon that talk with her later, he could not remember that she had made a single suggestion of her own, or displayed the smallest spark of enthusiasm in connection with the great fortune that had come to her. She was tired of course and sad. No doubt she would change her mind; but for the present she seemed to regard it only in the light of a new and heavy burden that had been laid upon her. Bunny could not understand it, but an uneasy wonder awoke and stirred in his heart. Was it because she was married to Jake that she felt it had come too late? If so--if so--well, if so, poor old Jake!
CHAPTER XXV
THE BLOW
"Home for Christmas. Motoring from Graydown. Three cheers, Bunny."