Jason, who with flushed face had been encouraging her in her mischief⁠—and Wolf fancied that both Mattie and Darnley had been the butts of their roguery⁠—now became gravely sardonic.

“We ought to have Tilly-Valley here,” he said, “to tell us what he’s learnt from the Bishop of Salisbury about the soul!”

“I agree entirely with Darnley!” Wolf burst out with a violence that astonished himself. His annoyance at Mattie’s maternal sensuality must have suddenly mingled with a sharp suspicion that Jason and Olwen had been making sport of him too!

“With Darnley?” murmured Mrs. Otter, still anxiously looking at her elder son to see if he had anything further to say.

“Wolf’s not a bird or a tree, is he, Jason?” whispered Olwen, with teasing eyes.