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me know, please, when you think of keeping him another time.’

Monica stood silent, gazing at her daughter-in-law. Hester’s tone and manner so astonished her that she could find no words.

Ingpen had risen to his feet and in the midst of her disarray Monica noticed that Robin looked up at him, as if for reassurance or protection.

‘I met him, Hester.—I thought he might come in for a moment and see the fountain,’ said Monica now. She felt her heart throbbing violently in her side. She could not apologize to Hester before Captain Ingpen, yet she was ready to do almost anything rather than display explicit warfare.

‘I know. So I see. But you ought to have sent Nurse to tell me. I must always know where he is. Come Robin, do you hear me?—at once.’ And Hester, standing still outside it, opened the gate more widely. She had not yet acknowledged Ingpen’s presence; now she nodded, coldly, curtly, and muttered: ‘How do you do.’

‘Run along then, darling. Good-bye for to-day.’ Monica kissed the distressed little face.

‘Good-bye,’ Robin murmured. ‘Good-bye,’ he repeated, turning to Ingpen and lifting his face to be kissed by him also.