His look flashed straight down to her. His eyes were still smiling, yet very strangely they compelled her own. He stooped unexpectedly after an instant's pause, lifted her hand with absolute gentleness away from the quivering Robin, and laid it in her lap. "Get up, old chap!" he said. "And don't be an ass!" There was no questioning the kindness of his voice. Robin lifted his head, stared a moment, then blundered to his feet. He stood awkwardly, as if unwilling to go but expecting to be dismissed. "He is staying to tea with me," said Juliet. "Oh, I think not," Green said. "Another time--if you are kind enough. Not to-day." He spoke very decidedly. Robin, with his head hanging, turned away. Green, with a brief gesture of farewell, turned to follow. But in that moment Juliet spoke in that full rich voice of hers that was all the more arresting because she did not raise it. "Mr. Green, I want to speak to you." He stopped at once. She thought she caught a glint of humour behind the courteous attention of his eyes. "Forgive me for interfering!" she said. "But I must say it." "Pray do!" said Green. Yet she found some difficulty in continuing. It would have been easier if he had shown resentment, but quizzical tolerance was hard to meet. She looked up at him doubtfully for a moment or two. Then, hesitatingly, she spoke. "Please--don't--punish Robin for coming here!" She saw his brows go up in surprise. He was about to speak, but she went on with more than a touch of embarrassment. "Perhaps it sounds impertinent, but I believe I could help him in some ways,--if I had the chance. Anyhow, I should like to try. Please let him come and see me as often as he likes!" "Really!" said Green, and stopped. The amusement had wholly gone out of his look. "I don't know what to say to you," he said in a moment. "You are so awfully kind." "No, I'm not indeed." Juliet's smile was oddly wistful. "I assure you I am selfish to the core. But there's something about Robin that goes straight to my heart. I should like to be kind to him--for my own sake. So don't--please--try to keep him out of my way!" She spoke very earnestly, her eyes under their straight brows, looking directly into his,--honest eyes that no man could doubt. Green stood facing her, his look as kind as her own. "Do you know, Miss Moore," he said, "I think this is about the kindest thing that has ever come into my experience?" She made a slight gesture of protest. "Oh, but don't let us talk in superlatives!" she said. "Fetch Robin back, and both of you stay to tea!" He shook his head. "Not to-day. I am very sorry. But he doesn't deserve it. He has been getting a bit out of hand lately. I can't pass it over." Juliet leaned forward in her chair. Her eyes were suddenly very bright. "This once, Mr. Green!" she said. He stiffened a little. "No," he said. "You won't?" "I can't."