He flicked his fingers to growling Jacob as he went past to the side entrance on the east, stepped in through the little door that was beside the great one, and passed on as he had been bidden into the little court, turned to the left, went up an outside staircase, and so down a little passage to the ladies’ parlour, where he knocked upon the door.  The voice he knew called to him from within; and he went in, smiling to himself.  Then he took the girl who awaited him there in both his arms, and kissed her twice—­first her hands and then her lips, for respect should come first and ardour second.

“My love,” said Robin, and threw off his hat with the pheasant’s tail, for coolness’ sake.

* * * * *

It was a sweet room this which he already knew by heart; for it was here that he had sat with Marjorie and her mother, silent and confused, evening after evening, last autumn; it was here, too, that she had led him last Christmas Eve, scarcely ten days ago, after he had kissed her in the enclosed garden.  But the low frosty sunlight lay in it now, upon the blue painted wainscot that rose half up the walls, the tall presses where the linen lay, the pieces of stuff, embroidered with pale lutes and wreaths that Mistress Manners had bought in Derby, hanging now over the plaster spaces.  There was a chimney, too, newly built, that was thought a great luxury; and in it burned an armful of logs, for the girl was setting out new linen for the household, and the scents of lavender and burning wood disputed the air between them.

“I thought it would be you,” she said, “when I heard the dogs.”

She piled the last rolls of linen in an ordered heap, and came to sit beside him.  Robin took one hand in his and sat silent.

She was of an age with him, perhaps a month the younger; and, as it ought to be, was his very contrary in all respects.  Where he was fair, she was pale and dark; his eyes were blue, hers black; he was lusty and showed promise of broadness, she was slender.

“And what news do you bring with you now?” she said presently.

He evaded this.

“Mistress Manners?” he asked.

“Mother has a megrim,” she said; “she is in her chamber.”  And she smiled at him again.  For these two, as is the custom of young persons who love one another, had said not a word on either side—­neither he to his father nor she to her parents.  They believed, as young persons do, that parents who bring children into the world, hold it as a chief danger that these children should follow their example, and themselves be married.  Besides, there is something delicious in secrecy.

“Then I will kiss you again,” he said, “while there is opportunity.”

* * * * *