ROBIN REDBREAST

A STORY FOR GIRLS

BY

MRS MOLESWORTH

AUTHOR OF 'CARROTS;' 'THE PALACE IN THE GARDEN;' 'A CHARGE FULFILLED;' 'IMOGEN;' 'THE BEWITCHED LAMP,' etc.

WITH SIX ILLUSTRATIONS BY ROBERT BARNES

W. & R. CHAMBERS, LIMITED
LONDON AND EDINBURGH

Chapter Page

I. THE HOUSE IN THE LANE 7

II. THE OLD LADY 23

III. TWO JACINTHS 39

IV. A LETTER AND A DISCUSSION 54

V. AN OLD STORY 69

VI. BESSIE'S MISGIVINGS 84

VII. AN INVITATION 99

VIII. DELICATE GROUND 116

IX. THE INDIAN MAIL 135

X. THE HARPERS' HOME 150

XI. GREAT NEWS 164

XII. '"CAMILLA" AND "MARGARET," YES' 181

XIII. MAMMA 192

XIV. A COURAGEOUS PLEADER 206

XV. LADY MYRTLE'S INTENTIONS 224

XVI. A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT 239

XVII. TWO DEGREES OF HONESTY 255

XVIII. I WILL THINK IT OVER 270

XIX. UNCLE MARMY'S GATES 281

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

THE OLD LADY TAPPED HER STICK IMPATIENTLY ON THE HARD GRAVEL Frontispiece

AND THEN FRANCES RELATED THE WHOLE, MARGARET LISTENING INTENTLY TILL ALMOST THE END Page 75

JACINTH'S BROWS CONTRACTED, AND THE LINES OF HER DELICATE FACE HARDENED, BUT SHE SAID NOTHING 141

JACINTH SAT DOWN ON A STOOL AT LADY MYRTLE'S FEET AND LOOKED UP IN HER FACE 177

'IT IS SO GOOD OF YOU, MEETING ME LIKE THIS,' THE YOUNGER WOMAN WHISPERED 207

'AH WELL!' SAID LADY MYRTLE, 'ANOTHER DREAM VANISHED!' 243

ROBIN REDBREAST.

CHAPTER I.

THE HOUSE IN THE LANE.

It stood not very far from the corner—the corner where the lane turned off from the high-road. And it suited its name, or its name suited it. It was such a pretty, cosy-looking house, much larger really than it seemed at the first glance, for it spread out wonderfully at the back.

It was red too—the out-jutting front, where the deep porch was, looking specially red, in contrast with the wings, which were entirely covered with ivy, while this centre was kept clear of any creepers. And high up, almost in the roof, two curious round windows, which caught and reflected the sunset glow—for the front was due west—over the top of the wall, itself so ivy grown that it seemed more like a hedge,