“Do you really think you’ll like it?” he asked, as Juliet did not speak.

She also had a cigarette between her lips, and there was genuine relaxation in her fashion of lounging on the shingle.

“I really don’t know,” she said.  “I’ve got to find out.”

“Don’t let them bully you!” said Green.

She smiled.  “No, they won’t do that, I think it is rather kind of them to take me without references, don’t you?”

“No,” said Green.

She turned and surveyed him with a gleam of amusement in her look.  “You sound cross!  Are you cross about anything?”

His eyes flashed down to hers with a suddenness almost startling.  He did not speak for a moment, then again he smiled abruptly with his eyes still holding hers.  “I believe I am,” he said.

“I wonder why,” said Juliet.

He laughed.  “Yes, you do, don’t you?  Great impertinence on my part of course.  It’s nice of you to put it so mildly.”

“I don’t think you impertinent,” said Juliet; “only rather silly.”

“Oh, thanks!” said Green.  “Kinder and kinder.  Silly to be cross on your account, is that it?  Well, it certainly sounds silly.”

Juliet smiled.  “No, silly to think I am not capable of taking care of myself.”

“Oh!” said Green.  “Well, I have some reason for thinking that, haven’t I?”

“None whatever,” said Juliet.

“All right.  I haven’t,” he said, and looked away.

“You are cross!” ejaculated Juliet, and broke into a laugh.

Green smoked steadily for some seconds with his eyes upon the sea.  A few yards below them Robin wandered bare-footed along the shore, accompanied by Columbus who had bestowed a condescending species of friendship upon him.

Green’s dark, alert face looked strangely swarthy against the rock behind him.  His expression was one of open discontent.

“I hate to think of you turning into that woman’s slave,” he said abruptly.  “To be quite honest, that was what brought me along to-day, intruding upon your picnic with Robin.  I want to warn you, I’ve got to warn you.”

“You have warned me,” said Juliet.

“Without result,” he said.

“No, not without result.  I am very grateful to you, and I shall remember your warning.”

“But you won’t profit by it,” Green’s voice was moody.

“I think I shall,” she said.  “In any case, I am only going for a week on trial.  That couldn’t hurt anyone.”

He did not look at her.  “You’re going out of the goodness of your heart,” he said.  “And—­though you won’t like it—­you’ll stay for the same reason.”

“Oh, don’t you think you are rather absurd?” said Juliet.  “I am not at all that sort of person, I assure you.”

“I think you are,” said Green.

She laughed again.  “Well I am told you are quite a frequent visitor there.  Why do you go—­if you don’t like it?”