Over the old baby, Betty, now two years old, he stooped and lightly
touched the fair silken hair, but he did not kiss her though the child
was sleeping deeply.
Later he went alone into the adjoining room where slept the two elder
children, Eileen aged five, and Molly who was not yet four. Maud did not
follow him, and presently he came back, treading softly, the flickering
night-light throwing odd shadows on his ugly face, and they left the room
together.
In the passage he turned to her abruptly. "Then I may send that child to
you tomorrow?" he said.
"Why not bring her?" said Maud smiling.
He shook his head. "No. I'll come over one day--on Sunday perhaps--and
see you all again. I won't--handicap her--by bringing her."
She understood him, and gave him her hand, but the fervour with which he
received and kissed it surprised her into drawing it away more quickly
than she had intended.
He laughed at the action. "I am only saluting motherhood," he explained.
But she shook her head and passed on. There were moments when even she
who knew him so well was not wholly sure of him.
They descended again and Saltash turned towards the drawing-room.
"Let's have some music!" he said, and dropped down before Maud's piano.
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