unny courteously.

"Well then, what does it matter who said it?" demanded the other.

"It doesn't matter," said Bunny, still suppressing merriment. "Except
that it isn't said in this house."

"Oh damn!" said the newcomer disconsolately. "Then I shall soon be sent
back in disgrace."

"Cheer up!" said Bunny. "We don't convict on a first offence as a rule in
this country."

"But I shall never remember!" groaned the other, and for the first time
the words held a note that was not wholly boyish, it sounded wistful,
even rather piteous. "People's ways are all so different. It's rather
infernal--trying to please everybody, you know, Bunny."

"Never mind!" said Bunny, in a brotherly tone. "I'll kick you every time
I see it coming if you like."

"Will you really? That would be jolly decent of you." The wistfulness
vanished in a laugh that was quick and musical, wholly spontaneous.

"You bet I will!" said Bunny.

"Right O! Mind you do! Now get out of the way and see me jump that rose
tree!"

There followed the light scamper of feet, and Maud raised herself swiftly
and leaned forth in time to see an athletic little figure in navy blue
wearing a jaunty Panama hat, skim like a bird over a sweeping Dorothy
Perkins just coming into bloom and alight on one leg with the perfect
poise of a winged Mercury on the other side.

CHAPTER VI

HOW TO MANAGE MEN

Bunny's lanky form followed and also cleared the rose-tree with
infinitely less grace, and again the girl laughed, her wide blue eyes
alight with mirth.

"What an antic! I thought you were going to pull up the rose bush with
your heels! What are you doing that for?"

Bunny's hands were on her shoulders. He was plainly enjoying himself
thoroughly. "I'm feeling for the wings," he explained. "I'll swear you
never jumped it. Where do you keep 'em?"

She drew herself away from his touch. "No, I haven't got any. They don't
grow on people like me. Don't let's stay here! I feel as if we're being
watched."

It was then that Maud spoke from her window in her quiet gentle voice
that yet held a certain authority.

"Bunny, bring our visitor up to see me!"

Both Bunny and his companion started and looked up, and Maud saw the
girl's face fully for the first time--a nervous little face with haunting
wide blue eyes made more intense by the short thick black lashes that
surrounded them, eyes that seemed to plead for kindness. There was charm
about the pointed chin and a g