"One might imagine what some men would do--but it would depend entirely upon the type," she thought. "What he will do will be different. It might seem cold; it might be merely judicial--but it might be surprising." She was quite haunted by the haggard look of his face as he had exclaimed: "I wish to God I had known him better! I wish to God I had talked to him more!" What he had done this morning was to go to Mersham Wood to see Mrs. Bennett. There were things it might be possible to learn by amiable and carefully considered expression of interest in her loss and loneliness. Concerning such things as she did not already know she would learn nothing from his conversation, but concerning such things as she had become aware of he would learn everything without alarming her. "If those unhappy children met at her cottage and wandered about in Mersham Wood together the tragedy is understandable." The Duchess' thinking ended pityingly because just at this time it was that Robin opened the door and stood looking at her. It seemed as though Dr. Redcliff must have talked to her for a long time. But she had on her small hat and coat and what the Duchess seemed chiefly to see was the wide darkness of her eyes set in a face suddenly pinched, small and snow white. She looked like a starved baby. "Please," she said with her hands clasped against her chest, "please--may I go to Mersham Wood?" "To--Mersham Wood," the Duchess felt aghast--and then suddenly a flood of thought rushed upon her. "It is not very far," the little gasping voice uttered. "I must go, please! Oh! I must! Just--to Mersham Wood!" Something almost uncontrollable rose in the Duchess' throat. "Child," she said. "Come here!" Robin went to her--oh, poor little soul!--in utter obedience. As she drew close to her she went down upon her knees holding up her hands like a little nun at prayer. "_Please_ let me go," she said again. "Only to Mersham Wood." "Stay here, my poor child and talk to me," the Duchess said. "The time has come when you must talk to some one." "When I come back--I will try. I--I want to ask--the Wood," said Robin. She caught at a fold of the Duchess' dress and went on rapidly. "It is not far. Dr. Redcliff said I might go. Mrs. Bennett is there. She loves me." "Are you going to talk to Mrs. Bennett?" "No! No! No! No! Not to any one in the world."