He left soon after, refusing to remain for the game of chess for which the lad earnestly pleaded.
"Not to-night, my son! Your brain has got to settle down. It’s a deal too lively at present."
He bent over Bunny at parting, and whispered a few words that were inaudible to Maud. Then he turned to go.
She followed him to the outer door. The evening air smote chill and salt upon her, and she shivered involuntarily. Jake stopped to light a cigarette.
"I shan’t be coming round to-morrow," he remarked then. "I shall be too busy. But I’ll look in on Saturday, and tell you what I’ve fixed up. Will Sunday morning do all right if I can fix it?"
"Say, you’re cold," said Jake gently. "I mustn’t keep you standing here. But you really meant that Yes?"
He looked at her, and she saw that his eyes were kindly. She held out her hand with a desperate little smile.
His hand closed strongly, sustainingly, upon hers. "Guess there’s nothing to be scared of," he said. "I’ll take care of you, sure."
She felt a sudden lump rise in her throat, and found she could not speak.
"You’re tired," said Jake softly. "Go and get a good night! It’s what you’re wanting."
He still held her hand, looking at her with those strange, glittering eyes of his that seemed to pierce straight through all reserve and enter even the hidden inner sanctuary of her soul.
"What’s this relative of yours like now?" he asked unexpectedly.
She shook her head. "I don’t know. I’ve never seen him."
"Think he’s coming along to offer you a home?" asked Jake.
Her face burned suddenly and hotly. For some reason she resented the question. "I don’t know. How can I possibly know?"
"All right," said Jake imperturbably. "But in case he does, I’d like you to know that you are at liberty to do as you please in the matter. He’ll tell you, maybe, that I’m not the man for you. That, I gather, is your mother’s attitude. I sensed it from the beginning. If he does, and if you feel inclined to agree with him, you’re free to do so,--free as air. But at the same time, I’d like you to remember that if you should accept anything from him and then not find it to your liking, you can still come along to me and follow out the original programme. I’m only wanting to make you comfortable."