“Half-a-crown,” he said.

“Oh, please!” she protested.  “Let us be honest!”

“Exactly,” he said.  “It’s all they cost me.  I get them through a friend.”

“But perhaps your friend wouldn’t care for me to have them at that price,” objected Juliet.

“Yes, he would.  It’s all right,” Green dismissed the matter with an airiness that was curiously final.  “Don’t bother about paying me now, please!  I’d rather have it later.  Robin, get up!”

He addressed his young brother so suddenly and so peremptorily that Juliet was momentarily startled.  Then very swiftly she intervened.

“Mr. Green, please, don’t—­be angry with Robin!”

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!”