She rose to greet him, her eyes alight with pleasure. "Oh, Charlie," she
said, "I have wanted to shake hands with you ever since I heard of your
escape."
He bent and kissed the hand she gave him. "Gracious as ever!" he
commented lightly. "Had you begun to wear mourning for me, I wonder? It
was a very cold bath, I assure you. We didn't enjoy it, any of us."
"I am sure you didn't." Her eyes still dwelt upon the dark face with its
half-mocking smile with a species of maternal tenderness. "And you lost
your yacht too! That was desperately unlucky."
He made a comic grimace. "I am past the age for crying over spilt milk,
Maud of the Roses." He uttered his old name for her with daring
assurance. "I have had worse losses than that in my time."
"And still you smile," she said.
He bowed. "A smile can conceal so much." He turned to his host as he came
up behind him. "Well, Jake, I've taken you at your word, you see, and
intruded into your virtuous household. How are Eileen and Molly and Betty
and--last but not least--the son and heir?"
Maud laughed softly. "Well done, Charlie! How clever of you to remember
them all!"
"Oh yes, I am quite clever," said Saltash, as again his hand met Jake's.
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