"But, Robin," she said gently—"you can't—not, at least, after what has happened. This is an affair for ourselves—for the family."
"But he is the family!"
"Well, in a sense, yes. But his long absence—his different way of looking at things—make it rather hard. It would be better, wouldn't it, to settle it here, without its going further."
"To settle it, yes—but we can't—we don't—we are leaving things quite alone—waiting—when we ought to do something."
Robin knew that she was showing him that his father was still outside the circle—that for herself and Uncle Garrett recent events had made no difference.
But was he outside the circle? Why should he be? At any rate he would soon be head of the House, and then it would matter very little——
"Also," Clare added, "he will scarcely have time just now. He is with father all day—and I don't see what he could do, after all."
"He could see her," said Robin slowly. He suddenly remembered that Dahlia had once expressed great admiration for his father—she was the very woman to like that kind of man. A hurried mental comparison between his father and Uncle Garrett favoured the idea.
"He could see her," he said again. "I think she might like him."
"My dear boy," said Garrett, "take it from me that what a man could do I've done. I assure you it's useless. Your father is a very excellent man, but, I must confess, in my opinion scarcely a diplomat——"