"I told the mother you were corresponding with Saltash."
Maud started a little. "Really, Bunny!" she said, in a tone of protest.
Bunny’s face was red. He looked at her with a species of dogged defiance. "I didn’t mean to tell her. It just came out. I don’t see why she shouldn’t know anyway. Jake knows."
"There is not the faintest reason." Maud’s tone was cold. She stared straight between the horse’s ears with eyes that were fixed and hard. "I don’t see why it should interest her, that’s all. Charlie is such an old friend that surely there is nothing very surprising about it."
"Or anything to get ratty about," said Bunny, with a touch of warmth. "That wasn’t what I set out to tell you; but you do jump down a fellow’s throat so. Of course the mother didn’t see anything in it. Why should she?"
"What were you going to tell me?" Maud’s voice still sounded cold but she forced herself to smile. She had no desire to give offence to Bunny who was not always easy to conciliate.
Bunny considered a moment. "Well, it has to do with Charlie. You know, he owns ’The Anchor.’"
Maud’s attitude relaxed. She turned towards him. "Yes, I know he does. He holds the mortgage, at least."
"Yes, that’s it; the mortgage." Bunny’s face wore a troubled frown. "Well, it seems that the place isn’t answering and they can’t go on paying interest. In fact, they are badly in arrears already, and he--or his agent--is tightening the reins and threatening to sell them up. The mother is pretty desperate about it, but she was very particular that I wasn’t to tell anybody but you. She says it means ruin, and no one can prevent it but Charlie--unless someone came along with a little money, which is the last thing likely to happen. She wants you to get hold of Charlie; says he will do anything for you, though I don’t know how she knows that. In fact, she went on as if it was a matter of life and death. Say, Maud, do you really think they are going to be ruined? What would happen if they were?"
Bunny looked at her with worried eyes. Evidently Mrs. Sheppard had succeeded in impressing him with the urgency of the situation.
Maud shook her head. She had not the least idea. "How much money do they want to tide them over?" she asked.