Bruce laughed outright. "I mean beneficiently--to us both," he said. "'You'll love me yet and I can wait your love's protracted growing.' We always loved our Browning, you know. Here is Cousin Charlotte's gate. Run in, little Robin, and don't worry. If I had lost you I couldn't meet the doctor down yonder and go on with my work--I'd be--well, never mind all that! We're not to talk of these things, and I hope I'd be man enough to live my life to some purpose if I lost my eyes, and limbs--or even you! But it would take time, to face my maimed life. It seems queer to find you, clear, decided, sane Rob, trying to fight against happiness, and not understanding yourself! Good-bye, Robin dear. When you see me again it will be your old chum Bruce, so don't run away from him. Good-bye." Bruce took one of Rob's hands--the left one nearest him--shook it kindly, raised his hat and walked swiftly away, leaving Rob to go slowly into Cousin Peace's pretty house with a new sensation of bewilderment and defeat subduing her into a person whom she did not in the least recognize as confident Rob Grey. Lydia opened the door and Rob amazed her by exclaiming: "Why I forgot all about you, Lyddie; you're another!" "Another what, Roberta?" Lydia asked with her customary gravity. "Another who has lately married. It doesn't matter; I had been reckoning up how many seemed to have been stricken with the epidemic; that's all," said Rob. "What you are meant to do, you do, Roberta, and it's not an epidemic," returned Lydia. "It is a state of great blessedness when the brethren dwell together in it in unity." The sound of a piano ceased from within and Polly, growing taller and with an awakening look on her pale face, rushed out to greet Rob with the ardour of her intense and hidden nature. Rob folded the little girl in her arms with more than usual tenderness. "Dear Polly, did Cousin Peace think I had broken my promise? I had to go to Wythie's first, you know," she said. "No; we weren't looking for you so soon; I thought I should get through practising before you came," said Polly. "Maraine is waiting for you." Maraine was the title by which Rob had solved the difficulty of what Polly should call Miss Charlotte, "for, though she was not really your godmother--I doubt your having a godmother, Pollykins,--she is near enough a fairy godmother to deserve the name," she said. "Very well; take me to her, Polly," Rob said now, and followed Polly to Miss Charlotte, whose soft voice and gentle, unseeing face, raised to smile at her, fell on Rob's perturbed spirit like the balm which she always found Cousin Peace. "What has happened, Robin dear?" asked Cousin Peace instantly. "What troubles you?" "Nothing worth talking about, dearest peaceful cousin," said Rob. "Bruce came down with you, Polly said. Did he tell you what has been discussed, and does it frighten you?" asked Miss Charlotte.