The Wooden Horse

rs during

WICK CRE

er 10

, and, charming though Cornwall is, its very fascination causes one to forget the importance of the outer world. I fancied that I discerned signs that you yourself felt this confinement and wished for something broader. Well, why not have it? I confess that I see no reason. Come up to London for a time-go abroad-your beloved Germany is waiting for you, and a year at one of the Universities would be both amusing and instructive. These are only suggestions; I should hesitate to offer them at all were it not that there has

st confess that he did not seem to me to attempt to consider yours; but it is easy, and indeed impertinent, to criticise, and I hope that,

bout coming up to town; I am sure that it is bad for you in every way-this burial

LOT R

TES," PE

er 12

and no time to do them. It was very delightful seeing you, and I, too, was extremely sorry we could not see more of you. My aunt

feel that they are in the least due to my vegetating. I haven't the least intention of sticking her

t. My aunt accused him of indifference with regard to the family good name. She, quite rightly, I think, pointed out that his behaviour from first to last had been the reverse of courteous to herself and her friends, and she suggested that he had, perhaps, scarcely realised the importance of maintaining the family dignity in the eyes of Pendragon. You remember his continual absences and the queer friendships that he formed. She suggested that he should modify these, and take a little more interest in the circle to which we, ourselves, belong. Surely there is nothing objectionable in all this; indeed, I should have thought that he wou

RT T

WICK CRE

er 14

ally don't know what to say, it is so hard for me to judge of all the circumstances. But it seems to me that your father can have had no warrant for the course that he took. One is naturally chary of delivering judgment in such a case, but it was, obviously, his duty to adapt himself

," PENDRAGO

er 13

you may happen to possess; I enclose the locket, the ring, your letters, and the tie that you worked. We discussed this matter the other day, but I cannot believe that you will still hold to a determination that can serve no purpose, except pe

RT T

RRACE, PENDRA

er 14

ave received. I regret that I must decline to part with the letters; surely i

FLU

er 15

se return them at once-by return. I have done nothing to deserve this. Unless you return them, I shall know that you

RRACE, PENDRA

er_ 15

on is una

.

rawing-room watching the grey sea wit

ld go mad. She had not slept since her last meeting with

ned from Robin to his family. She had seen Clare often enough and had always disliked her. But now she hated her so that she could have gladly killed her. It was at her door that she laid all the change in Robin and her own misery. She felt that she would do anything in the world to cause her pain. She brooded over it in the shabby little room with her face turned to the sea. How could she hurt her? There were the others, too-the rest of the family-all except Robin's father, who was, she felt instinctively, different. She thought that he would not have acted in that way. And then her thoughts turned back to Ro

him by her own days and nights of utter misery and knew that, had it been herself, they would have driven her back crying to his feet. Perhaps it was to ask for another interview. That she would refuse. She felt that she could n

e days of his absence, his figure had grown in her sight, glorified, resplendent, and love had revived again-now, with this letter she knew that it was over. She did not cry, she scarcely moved. She watched the sea, wit

and went about her daily affairs, quietly, without confusion. She saw herself and Robin like figures i

ct labyrinth of suggested remedies, none of which afforded him any outlet. The thought of exposure was horrible; anything must be done to avoid that-disgrace to hi

disloyalty to that creed that had roused the son's anger-and now, behold, the son was sinning more than the father! It was truly ironic that, three days after his att

would be read in court, would be printed in the newspapers for all the world to see. With youth's easy grasping of eternity,

the carr

crow o

e shower, an

ail and ove

ugh ever

the wet

gh swung un

it was heav

e wind dyi

two devils

derer's bones

host's m

Cambridge and had had a curious fascination for him from the first. He had found that the little bookseller at Worm

riting was useless. And yet to leave the matter uncertain, waiting for the blow to fall, with n

yet to admit it to himself, but the three of them, his aunt, his uncle, and himself, had seemed almost frightened. His father was another person; stern, cold, unfailingly polite, suddenly apparently possessed of those little courtesies in which he had seemed before so singularly lacking. There had been conversation of a kind at meals, and it had always been his father who had filled awkward p

imself knew. He had never in their eyes failed, in any degree, towards the family honour. From whatever side the House might be

everything in her life; that her faith in the family centred in his own honour and that her

ther; it was now to totter under blows dealt by the son. The first crisis had been severe, this would be infinitely more s

light twinkled in the bay, and a line of white breakers flashed and vanished, keeping time, it seemed, with the changing gleam of the lighthouse far out to sea. His own room was dark, s

own room-the Castle of Intimacy, as Randal had once called it

re to think about," th

ndid! I was just going to send up for you. Come and

ee days-rather too affectionate, Robin thought. He

ou been all t

om. I've

because it's been here a good long tim

in the least attractive. Bed

e wind dyi

two devils

derer's bones

host's m

now Beddo

kind of thing

gh--only I've been reading him t

n't have moods." This fr

of the fire to his aunt. How was he to begin? What was he to say? Ther

een influenced. Harry had been so different those last three days-she could not understand it. She watched him eagerly, hungrily. Why was he not

'd better-it's a long

hat is-well, I've some

Was there going to be more worry? What had happened lately to the world? It seemed to have lost all proper respect for the Trojan position. He c

obin? Is anyth

s only-that is-Oh, dash it

he ticking of the clock drov

mess. I've been rather a fo

assistance save a cold

an awful fool, I know, but I really didn't know h

rrett. "Would you mind bein

d chap, and he gave a picnic-canaders and things up the river. We had a jolly afternoon and she seemed awfully nice and-her mother wasn't there. Then-after that-I saw a lot of her. Every one does at Cambridge-I mean see girls and all that kind of thing-and I didn't think anything of it-and she really seemed awfully nice then. T

that they would help him, but they said no word u

here, and her mother was horrid. I began to see it differently, and at last, one night, I told her so. Of course, I thought, naturally, that she would understand. But she didn't-her mother was horrid-and she made a scene-it was all very unpleasant." R

words. He was rather glad now that he had spoken. It had been a relief to unburden himself; for so many days h

t last from Garrett

ith her mother at Sea view

t! That girl! You

he "You!" was a cry of horror. She suddenly got up and went over to him. She

ven't written to that girl! Not

hat, Aunt Clare. It isn't so bad-other fellows--" but then

"All you have done, I mean? Y

gerly. "I meant no harm by it. I wr

the mantelpiece, her

it," she said. "It isn't like you-not a b

him, Clare," said Garrett. "We'd better pass the

ad suddenly occurred to him that he was the only person who could really deal wit

en to your fat

obin answered, rather

But, Robin, she's plain-quite-and her ma

had poured all things that were lovely and of good report, could have made love to a

e was jealous of her. "You don't

on't think I ever did really. I can

means of proving his practical utility. "That's the point, of course. That the letters are there and

mber, and judging by her answers. I said the usual sort of

. Her present thought was of Robin; that she must alter her feelings about him

. We must see what's to be done. We'll talk about it

a mess," he said. "But we'll see--" and

walked over to his aunt, an

y sorry-it's about you that I care most-but I've lear

him, and took h

much if you care for me in the same way. That's all I have, Robin-your cari

id, and bent down and kisse