Forest Fire is going to make his mark there."
"Oh, bother Forest Fire!" said Maud. "I want you."
"What for?" said Jake.
"Well, General Melrose knows you. He was talking of you down at the Club
the other afternoon. And I want him to meet you--with me. Please come,
Jake!" Maud spoke persuasively.
"All right," said Jake.
"You will?"
"I will," he said, smiling a little. "You don't often interfere with my
liberty. I remember old Melrose, met him years ago at Doncaster. He's
always been keen on the Turf, and he stood by me once when--someone--was
trying to queer my pitch."
"Oh!" said Maud. "You mean the time that Charlie let you down! Poor
Charlie! He was horribly ashamed of himself afterwards."
Toby looked up sharply, and again the colour came into her face, mounting
swiftly to her forehead. She appeared to be on the verge of hot speech,
but no words came.
It was Jake who spoke in his soft, easy drawl. "Oh, I guess he's grown a
bit since then. Anyway, whatever his intentions, he never managed to do
me any harm. And I rather think his malice is dead now."
"It died long ago," said Maud quietly. "He owes you a great deal, Jake.
You've taught him to be a man."
"I?" said Jake.
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