And Jake turned back into the room with a grim smile on his lips, picked up a letter from the table, and thrust it deep into the fire.
After that he lighted his pipe with the charred remnants thereof, and followed Maud into the open.
The sun shone out again as they went down the hill, and the sea gleamed below them like a sheet of silver.
He smiled. "Then I reckon you shall. Say, does Bunny know about your coming up here to me?"
She coloured deeply. "He knew I came, yes. He did not know why."
Jake was still smiling. "Guess he’ll be pleased," he said. He added, between puffs at his pipe: "We’ll make him happy between us. We’ll give him the time of his life."
She drew a deep breath. Surely no sacrifice was too great for that!
They passed the church on the hill, and descended the steep road to the town.
"There are some rooms I know of along this road," said Jake. "Kept by the wife of one of our stable-men. Shall we go in and have a look at ’em?"
She hesitated. "Bunny will wonder where I am."
He glanced at her. "Well, look here! You leave me to see to it. I’ll fix up something, and then I’ll come on after you and we’ll get the boy away."
She answered him with an effort. "You do understand, don’t you, that I couldn’t--I can’t--accept help from you before--before--our marriage?"
"Why not?" he said again. "Reckon you mean to stick to your bargain?"
"Oh, it isn’t that," she said painfully. "Of course--of course--I shall keep my word with you. But I have a little pride left--just a little--and----"
"And I’m to humour it, eh?" said Jake. "Well, you shall have it your own way. But let me do the fixing for you! I know just what you want. It’s only for a few days either."
But when they separated at length she paused uneasily. "Jake!"
She stretched a nervous hand towards him. "Jake, if you meet--my step-father, you will not--not----"
"Most unfortunately I can’t," said Jake. He held her hand for a moment, and let it go. "There! Good-bye! I won’t do anything indiscreet, I promise you. There is too much at stake. Now you get back to Bunny as quick as you can! I shan’t be long after you."
And Maud went with a feeling at the heart of relief and dread oddly mingled. She knew that Jake would keep his word. There was a rocklike strength about him that nothing could ever shake. For good or ill, he would stick to a bargain, be the price what it might. But she saw him overriding every obstacle to attain his purpose. He would never flinch from possible consequences; of that she was certain. What he had said he would do, that he would do, and no power on earth would divert him therefrom.