Repentance without a root will only endure for a while; and so the poor boy found.
Cook soon made an opportunity, and silenced his well-meant excuses by the most plausible reasoning, as well as by unlimited promises of dainty bits for himself and Corrie.
Again and again the covered basket was placed in readiness for removal from its place of concealment, and frequent practice made Robin very expert in eluding Jonathan's sharp eyes; so much so that the old man began to think his suspicions were groundless as far as the boy was concerned, especially as he had seldom now reason to find fault with his work.
Robin often noticed the clink of glass bottles as he was carrying back the basket to Oaklands, but as the cover was always securely tied down with cord, he did not feel tempted to look inside. It was not until long afterwards that he connected this sound with the woman's frequently excited manner, which at times quite frightened him. Yet the poor lad felt himself enthralled in a hard bondage. Cook had at first made him her slave, and now kept him so chiefly through well-timed flattery. So, though he often thought of rebelling, Robin still continued to obey her secret orders, having little reward beyond that of seeing his little sister's face brighten up when he produced a nice piece of cake or pudding for her. This pleasure could be enjoyed in some cool green spot beyond the town, where Robin would take her in her little carriage of an evening when his day's work was over. Yet the boy was miserable, and the prattle of his innocent sister made him more so.
"Why should I be afraid of cook?" he reasoned with himself. "I will tell old Jonathan all about it, and he will help me."
This sage plan would have been put into execution, if something had not happened the following day which tightened yet more closely the chains that bound him. Robin had put on the fetters when he first listened to the tempter's voice.
Some friends were invited to dine at Oaklands, and Jonathan had begged, as a special favour, to be allowed to arrange the flowers for the centre of the table. Robin had carried in the basket, and now stood beside the old man in the china pantry, watching him select the choicest blossoms for the handsome china vase placed ready to receive them.
The lovely bouquet was soon complete, and Jonathan went off again to the garden. Robin lingered behind for a few minutes, gazing with delight on the pretty cups and plates and glittering glass, all so neatly arranged upon the shelves. It was seldom he had an excuse for coming farther into the house than the kitchen. Alas! His curiosity cost him dear, for, turning round suddenly, his arm came in contact with the lovely vase, knocking it against an awkwardly projecting corner of a cupboard. One of the handles snapped off and fell to the ground. The boy stood aghast for one moment; then, snatching up the fragment, flew with it to the kitchen.
"Oh, cook, help me!" he cried. "What shall I do? Look what has happened! I didn't mean to break it; it just chipped off as I turned round. Please don't tell master or mistress: I might lose my place if they heard of it!"
"Yes, that you would," cried the cunning woman triumphantly, with a sharp look in her eyes, though she well knew that an accident such as Robin had just met with would not be considered in the light of a crime, but would only elicit a sorrowful regret and a request to be more careful in future from the gentle mistress of Oaklands. But at the present moment it suited her purpose to terrify the lad with the fear of consequences; so, raising both her hands with a deprecating gesture, she continued, "Well! You have got yourself into a fine scrape; but as you are a good lad, and always do what I ask you, I will be a friend in need. I know where the housekeeper puts the diamond cement; the handle shall be mended so that no one shall know it was ever broken; it will never show."