"I congratulate you," she said, turning to Harry. "You have done a great deal in three weeks. It looks," she said, looking round the room, "almost like a conspiracy. I——" Then she suddenly broke down. She bent down over Robin and caught his head between her hands—
"Robin—Robin dear—you must come, you must, dear. I brought you up—I have loved you—always—always. You can't leave me now, old boy, after all that I have done—all, everything. Why, he has done nothing—he——"
She kissed him again and again, and caught his hands: "Robin, I love you—you—only in all the world; you are all that I have got——"
But he put her hands gently aside. "Please—please—Aunt Clare, I am dreadfully sorry——"
And then her pride returned to her. She walked to the door with her head high.
"I will go to the Darcy's in London until that other house is ready. I will go to-morrow——"
She opened the door, but Harry sprang up—
"Please, Clare—don't go like that. Think over it—perhaps to-morrow——"
"Oh, let me go," she answered wearily; "I'm tired."
She walked up the stairs to her room. She could scarcely see—Robin had denied her!