e. He was a fidget
and he was a talker. Out of a full mind he poured forth an abundant
stream of words, carelessly chosen at times, yet on the whole apt to
the occasion. His intelligence was marked, of course,--what very young
child's is not?--and he had inherited an ample store of the _joie de
vivre_ which distinguished his mother. The homeliness of feature which
had marked him out in the baldhead stage of his existence had given
place to a dawning of what promised to be later on distinct good looks.
Already he was an attractive-looking child, with a beautiful mouth, a
rather short and at present rather snub nose, freckled on the bridge,
large blue eyes, and a forehead, temples and chin which hinted at
Rosamund's. His hair was now light brown, and had a bold, almost an
ardent, wave in it. Perhaps Robin's most marked characteristic at this
time was ardor. Occasionally the mildly inquiring expression which Dion
had been touched by in the early days came to his little face. He could
be very gentle and very clinging, and was certainly sensitive. Often
imagination, in embryo as it were, was shown by his eyes. But ardor
informed and enveloped him, he swam in ardor and of ardor he was all
compact. Even the freckles which disfigured, or adorned, the bridge of
his nose looked ardent. Rosamund loved those freckles in a way she could
never have explained, loved them with a strength and tenderness which
issued from the very roots of her being. To her they were Robin, the
dearest part of the dearest thing on earth. Many of her kisses had gone
to those little freckles.

Dion might have to part not only from Rosamund but also from Robin.

He had become very fond of his little son. The detachment which had
perhaps marked his mental attitude to the baby did not mark his
mental attitude to the boy. In the Robin of to-day, the jerseyed and
knickerbockered person, with the incessantly active legs, the eager
eyes, the perpetually twittering voice, Dion was conscious of the spirit
of progress. Already he was able to foresee the small school-boy, whom
only a father could properly help and advise in regard to many aspects
of the life ahead; already he was looking forward to the time when he
could take a hand in the training of Robin. It would be very hard to go
away from that little bit of quicksilver, very hard indeed.

But the thought which made his heart sink, which brought with it almost
a sensation of mortal sickness to his soul, was t