But he was not destined to run to a finish.  As he rounded a bend that gave him a view of the house in the distance, he suddenly heard a voice call to him from the deep shadow of the trees, and checking sharply he discerned a dim figure coming towards him across the grassy ride that bordered the road.

He diverted his course without a moment’s thought, and went to meet it.

“Ah, how kind of you!” said Juliet.  “And there’s going to be such a downpour in a minute.”

“What is the matter?” he said, her hand in his.

She was smiling a difficult smile.  “Nothing very much.  Not enough to warrant my extreme selfishness in stopping you.  I have given my foot a stupid twist, that’s all, and it doesn’t like walking.”

“Take my arm!” said Green.

She took it, her white face still bravely smiling.  “Thank you, Mr. Green.”

“Lean hard!” he said.

She obeyed him, and he led her, limping, to the road, Columbus, the ever-faithful, trudging behind.

“It really is a shame,” she said.  “We shall both be drenched now.”

He glanced at the threatening sky.  “It may hold off for a bit yet.  What were you doing?”

“I was coming to see you,” she said.

“To see me!” His look came swiftly to her.  “What about?”

“About Robin,” she answered simply.  “I wasn’t in the car when it happened, but I heard all about it when Mrs. Fielding came in.  Mr. Green, I hope you haven’t been very hard on him.”

Green was silent for a moment.  “And you started straight off to come to the rescue?” he said then.

“Oh, I felt sure that he acted on impulse, not realizing.  You can’t judge him by ordinary standards.  It isn’t fair,” pleaded Juliet.  “There was probably some extenuating circumstance in the background—­something we don’t know about.  I hope you haven’t been very severe.  You haven’t, have you?”

Green began to smile.  “You make me out an awful ogre,” he said.  “Is it my trade that does it?  No, I haven’t punished him at all.  As you say, we must be fair, and I found he wasn’t the person most to blame.  Can you guess who was?”

“No,” said Juliet.

“I thought not.  Well, I have traced it to its source, and it lies—­at your door.”

“At mine!” ejaculated Juliet.

“At yours, yes.  You’ve been too kind to him.  It’s just your way, isn’t it?  You spoil everybody.”  Again for an instant his look flashed over her.  “With the result that Robin, not hampered by convention as are the rest of us, lies in wait on forbidden ground for a glimpse of his divinity.  Being caught and roundly abused for it by his brother Jack, he naturally took offence and trouble ensued.  That is the whole story.”

“Oh, dear,” said Juliet.  “But surely that was very unnecessary of your brother Jack.  He might have made allowances.”

“My brother Jack often does unnecessary things,” said Green drily.  “And he never makes allowances for anyone but himself.”