"Yes, I. Why not?" He met her look of astonishment with a smile. "Have I given you a shock?"
She recovered herself with an answering smile. "No, of course not. I might have guessed. I wonder I didn't."
"But how could you guess?" he questioned. "Have I the manners of a pedagogue?"
"No," she said again. "No, of course not. Only—I have been hearing a good deal about you to-day; not in your capacity of schoolmaster, but as—Brother Dick."
"Ah!" he said sharply, and just for a moment she thought he was either embarrassed or annoyed, but whatever the feeling he covered it instantly. "You have talked to my brother Robin?"
"Yes," she said. "He is the only person I have talked to besides Mrs.
Rickett. We met on the shore."
"I hope he behaved himself," he said. "You weren't afraid of him, I hope."
"No; poor lad! Why should I be?" Juliet spoke very gently, very pitifully. "I have a feeling that Robin and I are going to be friends," she said.
"You are very good," he said, in a low voice. "He hasn't many friends, poor chap. But he's very faithful to those he's got. Most people are so revolted by his appearance that they never get any farther. And he's shy too—very naturally. How did he come to speak to you?"
She hesitated. "It was I who spoke first," she said, in a moment.