Does--Robin matter?"
She started at the question. It was obviously unexpected. "No! Of course
not!" she said.
"Thank you," he said steadily. "I loved you for that before you said it."
She laid her hand upon his and held it. "That's--one of the things I
love you for, Dick," she said, with eyes downcast. "You are
so--splendidly--loyal."
"Sweetheart!" he said softly. "There's no virtue in that."
Her brows were slightly drawn. "I think there is. Anyway it appeals to me
tremendously. You would stick to Robin--whatever the cost."
"Well, that, of course!" he said. "I flatter myself I am necessary to
Robin. But with Jack it is otherwise. I've kicked him out."
"Dick!" She looked at him in sharp amazement.
He smiled, a thin-lipped smile. "Yes. It had to be. I've put up with him
long enough. I told him so last night."
"You--quarrelled?" said Juliet.
"No. We didn't quarrel. I gave him his marching orders, that's all."
"But wasn't he very angry?"
"Oh, pshaw!" said Dick. "What of it?"
She was looking at him intently, for there was something merciless about
his smile. "Do you always do that, I wonder," she said, "with the people
who make you angry?"
"Do what?" he said.
Pages:
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230