--your lowering yourself like this, and your
exalting me. I am a hound: if I were half a man, I'd have made it easier
for you. It is only that I distrust my own ability, my own penetration,
my own judgment. I ought not to need any more instructions--but this
business is so important, and I'm afraid of making a mess of it."

"Dear Robert, you lay too much stress on the opinion I pretended to have
of you, in days when I only half knew you and thought far too much of
myself and too little of others. I know better now. You have the insight
of sympathy: your heart will help your head. You will not need to ask me
many questions; you can read between the lines."

"I will try. You need not answer in words when you don't want to: just
move your head a little, and let me see your eyes. You see, in view of
my stupidity, the less risks we take the better: I must have some things
down in black and white. Well then: you said something to Mabel about my
health, and the fall fishing?"

"Yes. You do need a change; I have had you on my conscience all this
while. It is all my doing; and you love me so." Her hand stole into
mine.

"That is certainly so. Do you know where I would go if left to
myself--if these last months were blotted from the calendar?"

"Of course. Is it necessary to go through all these formalities?"

"I think so: forgive me, dear. I must not trust my intuitions too far:
they are not as fine as yours.--You know what construction might be put
on my going there now?--Not by the outside world; it has nothing to do
with this business, happily. But by any of us; and more especially
by--ah--by him?"

Her face was set now, her lips closed tight; but she nodded.

"You have no word to send, I suppose?--No, of course not: how could you?
Then if he asks, or if it is necessary to tell him about you, as of
course it will be, I am to say merely what I think, so that you are
nowise responsible?--Yes, I see. But the main thing to do there is to
make observations, and bring my report to you?--Certainly: he must put
himself on record before you do, if this is to go on. _If?_ Of course it
will: it shall be all right, my dear child. Then it follows that I can't
bring him back with me?--Why no: he must bide his time, and fulfil his
penance. That is all, I believe: the examination--or the operation, I
had nearly said--is over, and you have borne it well. Thank you,
Princess; and forgive me for troubling you. You won't hate me, will yo