Red-Robin

l we do

bin's sitting-room. Not in a tone of complaint did she speak, rather as th

could not leave his room; Harkness had to

n, permitting a sigh to convey how much she would welcome that something. "It

of inviting books and pretty pictures and comfy chairs; Harkness was ever so nice and concerned as to their comfort, they were as secure from Mrs. Budge's hostility as thi

ou like most

for a long ride-I adore going like

s, the chauffeur. Williams, like the others around the Manor, with the exception of Mrs. Budge, had fallen under Robin's spell and was enjoying the stir that her coming broug

or one moment that she was living on Robin's charity and were most of them quite unnecessary and little things that Robin would really like to do

ed about herself. How she looked in this peachy car-how she'd love to steer it and just step on the gas and fly; some day, when she was famous, she'd have a car like this only much bigger and painted yellow and she'd take Mom and Pop out and go through

that moment, so as to paint them. He would love Wassumsic, she knew-but, oh, he would hate the Mills. He would think, as she did, that it was too bad they had built the Mill cottages between the dingy buildings and the freight

n't this fun?" as Williams coasted down a long gr

untiring interest; they exclaimed delightedly over each curve and hill in the road, each tiny ham

In the valley below them was a collection of unpainted houses, leaning towar

bin. "Don't you feel just as thou

ht through," Williams answ

ly down the difficult hill only to have it stop, with a r

n one breath as Williams, with an expl

f investigation, bef

ga

that

hough anyone'd know what gas is in these parts. Yo

appen, Beryl," laughed Rob

h of an adventure. An

n to the next town-unless he was lucky enough to meet someone

mbled resentfully, quite forgetting that he had onl

waited until Williams had disappeared, then went forth to explore the Forgotten Village. Unabashed, they stared at the weather-beaten houses, at the old woman, a faded shawl tied around her head, washing clothes at

eard the sound of tumbling water and discovered a stream breaking its way through

e this goes," s

et and interlocked close overhead, fir trees, mingling with the silver white trunks of slender birches, walled it either

r do you suppose it comes out?" For the

there's

ing stealthily, they stared in amazement. For, unlike its neighbors in the village below, this house was as white as

ryl, it's like the house of bread and cake with the window panes of sugar. Do

the roof. Let's ask for a drink

upon the privacy of this shut-away house but Beryl, not wai

bsurdly like the witch of the fairy story, confronted the girl

walk-oh, may we have a drink of water?" she floundered, fairly b

oman answered in rapid German, her head turned backwa

y are two children-lost,

ean and shining, a wide fireplace aglow with a wood fire that cast bright splotches of col

n, one long thin hand supporting her head i

E HOUSE OF BR

those shadowed eyes scrutinized her. While Robin talked, Beryl swiftly surveyed the room and its occupants, not least of which was a great St. Bernard dog,

grave face, with that enchanting tenderness which had w

g for he moved slowly over to her, lifted a b

voice. "He does not welcome many into our seclusion. Please sit down.

ely curious and excited, sat on the edge of the settle and chattered, while Beryl, we

dream from the road that this house was here. Has it a name? First I called it the House of Bread and

no one would know from the ro

ely?" there was a perceptible tightening of t

eclared Beryl, half-an-hour later as they went back down t

lady, Beryl. I f

ut you don't think for a moment she belongs 'round here,

her House of Rushing Waters was very

like a witch with her pa

with Robin's beloved fairy lore.

s what. Wouldn't it be fun to find out what it is? Whether she's hiding there on account of some

hought the room was lovely, too-and the lunch and that darling dog." Rob

ent in that room? Books and magazines! Country people don't sit and read magazines and knit on rose wool in the middle of the aftern

tice all these things. I'd nev

d I think it was a good thing we didn't tell her just who we were. But let's

e argued so staunchly that Beryl put in hastily: "Well, let's just have it a secret because secrets are such fu

l a soul!" s

ied at their disappearance and annoyed at the delay. He

irls thought of the house they

g here from anarchists," whispered Beryl, with a burst of imagin

re go again

f you don't, I want to find ou

sn't want to tell us who she is I don't want her to! It's more f

Beryl's impa

ust a newspaper under Robin's nose with an expressive "There, re

ppearance of its Dowager Queen from the l

id for five years right in the heart of New York and then met his heir face to

English. Wouldn't she ta

They talk ever so many tongues. English as good