Her heart went out to him, he looked so forlorn.  “Why don’t you go and tell him you’re sorry?” she said gently.

“Not—­sorry,” articulated Robin, with a sniff.

The matter presented difficulties.  Juliet tried to hedge.  “What have you been doing?”

“Quarrelling,” said Robin.

“What!  With Dick?”

“No.”  Again he glanced at her, and wiped a hasty hand across his eyes.  “Dick!” he repeated, as if in derision at her colossal ignorance.

“Well, but who then?” she questioned.  “That is—­of course don’t tell me if you’d rather not!”

“Don’t mind,” said Robin.  “I’ll tell you anything.  It was—­Jack.”  He suddenly turned to her fully with blazing eyes.  “I—­hate—­Jack!” he said very emphatically.

“Jack!  But who is Jack?  Oh, I remember!” Juliet abruptly recalled the young chauffeur at the churchyard gate.  “He is your other brother, isn’t he?  I’d forgotten him.”

“He’s—­a beast!” said Robin.  “I hate him.”

His look challenged reproof.  Juliet wisely made none.  “Isn’t he kind to you?” she said.

“It wasn’t that!” blurted out Robin.  “It—­it—­was what he said—­about—­about—­” He suddenly stopped, closed his lips and sat savagely biting them.

“About what?” asked Juliet, bewildered.

Robin sat mute.

“I should forget it if I were you,” she said sensibly.  “People often do and say things they don’t mean.  It doesn’t pay to be too sensitive.  Let’s forget it, shall we?”

“I can’t,” said Robin.  “Dicky’s angry.”  He paused, then continued with an effort.  “He said I wasn’t to come here, said—­said he’d punish me if I did.  He called me back, and I wouldn’t go.  He—­” He suddenly broke off, and crept close to her like a frightened dog—­“he’s coming now!” he whispered.

The catch of the gate had clicked, and Columbus who had accepted Robin without question, bustled forward to investigate.

He came back almost immediately, wearing a satisfied look, and as he settled down again by Juliet’s side, Green appeared on the path that led to the apple-trees.

Robin pressed closer to Juliet.  She could feel him trembling.  Instinctively she laid her hand upon him as Green drew near.

“Have you come to see me or to look for Robin?” she said.

Green’s look was enigmatical.  It comprehended them both at a single glance.  She wondered if he were really angry, but if so, he had himself under complete control.

“I have brought you a box of cigarettes to go on with, Miss Moore,” he said, and produced his offering with a smile.

“How very kind of you!” said Juliet.  She sat up with a quick flush of embarrassment.  “How did you manage to get them so soon?  You must have had them by you.”

“I had,” said Green.  “But I can spare you these with pleasure.  It’s awful to be without a smoke, isn’t it?”

Juliet smiled.  “These will last me for ages.  I am being very economical now.  Please will you tell me how much they are?”