Part 47 (1/2)

She was standing with Jake in the many-hued glow of the lanterns, and she asked the question with a momentary anxiety, for she had looked in vain for Toby for some time.

”She's with Bunny. She's safe enough,” said Jake.

”But they haven't come on board yet, and they've been gone so long,” Maud said. ”It's curious how little Captain Larpent seems to interest himself in her doings.”

”Mighty curious,” agreed Jake.

For Larpent had kept to the bridge morosely, almost throughout the evening. He was standing there now, looking down upon the s.h.i.+fting, chattering crowd. He had no idea how long it would be before Saltash tired of the game and gave orders to set sail. He waited in dumb endurance--as he would wait from day to day until the longed-for moment arrived. It had happened often before, Saltash's caprice had sometimes driven him to the verge of rebellion, but no one--not even Saltash himself--ever suspected it. Silent, phlegmatic, inexpressive, Larpent held on his undeviating course.

Maud's attention did not linger upon him. No one--save perhaps Saltash--ever paid much attention to Larpent. She turned back to watch the now empty gangway, and in a moment she gave an exclamation of relief.

”Ah! Here they come at last!”

A laughing voice spoke behind her. ”Enter Cinderella and the Prince!”

She started and saw Saltash's swarthy face close to her. His odd eyes looked into hers with a flash of mischief.

”See how all my plans bear fruit!” he said. ”I wave my wand, and you behold the result.”

She turned from him to look again upon the advancing couple. They were crossing the gangway alone. Toby, slim, girlish, her wide blue eyes s.h.i.+ning like the eyes of an awakened child, Bunny close behind her, touching her, his hand actually on her shoulder, possession and protection in every line of him. He was murmuring into her ear as they came, and his face was alight with the glory which no earthly lamp can kindle.

”Behold!” Saltash said again, and moved forward in his sudden fas.h.i.+on to receive them.

He met them as they stepped on board, and in a moment they were the centre of observation. The buzz of talk died down as the general attention focussed upon them. Maud was aware of Jake standing squarely behind her, and she put out a hand to him which he grasped and held.

Saltash was laughing, but they could not hear what he said. Only in a moment he had taken a hand of Bunny's and a hand of Toby's and joined them together. Toby's eyes were lifted to his face. She was smiling with lips that trembled, and Maud's heart gave a great throb of pity, she could not have said wherefore. She had a deep longing to go and gather the child into her arms and comfort her.

Then Toby too was laughing, and she heard Saltash's voice. ”These things only happen properly once in a blue moon, _ma chere_. I give you both my blessing for the second time to-day. I wish you better luck than has ever come my way.”

He threw a gay malicious glance towards the bridge, where Larpent stood like a grim Viking looking down upon the scene.

”Come!” he said. ”We had better go and tell your daddy next!”

He led them lightly forward, and the crowd opened out with jests and laughter to let them pa.s.s.

Toby walked between the two men, very pale but still smiling--a smile that was curiously like the smile of a child that is trying not to cry.

”Oh, poor little thing!” Maud whispered suddenly and drew back beside Jake as if she could not bear to look.

”She'll be all right,” said Jake stoutly. ”Don't you fret any! Bunny's sound.”

”Oh, yes, I know--I know! But she's so young.” All the yearning of motherhood was in Maud's voice. ”Does she love him? Does she?”

Jake's hand gripped hers more closely. He looked into her face with a smile in his red-brown eyes. ”Maybe not as we know love,” he said. ”It doesn't come all at once--that sort.”

She smiled back at him, for she could not help it, even as she shook her head in misgiving. ”Sometimes--it doesn't come at all!” she said.

CHAPTER IX