"I shall not forget it," he said softly. "And Dr. Allen will get the letter. Or, if not he, someone else."
There was silence again, but Mrs. Manners heard her daughter draw a long breath.
III
It was an hour later that Marjorie found herself able to say that which she knew must be said.
Robin had lingered on, talking of this and that, though he had said half a dozen times that he must be getting homewards; and at last, when he rose, Mistress Manners, who was still wholly misconceiving the situation, after the manner of sensible middle-aged folk, archly and tactfully took her leave and disappeared down towards the house, advancing some domestic reason for her departure.
Robin sighed, and turned to the girl, who still sat quiet. But as he turned she lifted her eyes to him swiftly.
"Good-bye, Mr. Robin," she said.
He pulled himself up.
"You understand, do you not?" she said. "You are to be a priest. You must remember that always. You are a sort of student already."
She could see him pale a little; his lips tightened. For a moment he said nothing; he was taken wholly aback.