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in a gathering of men with such assurance and success, anyone so
fascinating in a drawing-room, anyone in the world with such
captivating savoir faire? Robin, himself, was afraid of women, except
very old and lonely ones. He had long ago been "horribly" in love,
and she might, one imagines, have loved him in return had he pursued
the matter; but what would Harry do without him? No, until Harry
himself married, Robin must send the other sex to limbo. And
through all these years what agitations there had been! For a long
time it had seemed as certain that Harry would marry as that night
must follow the day…
And yet, always Robin was delivered. Through all these years
Harry had not been even engaged. Robin wondered at the women,
but, from his heart, was grateful to them, and, with every year, the
assurance of safety grew. Now, always, he put the terrible thought
from him. Sometimes in the night it would leap out from the dark,
with a mouth grin and widespread claws "What'll you do, my friend,
if it does happen? It may, you know. Plenty of time yet... A nice kind
of time you'll have alone" Well, that was a bad half hour, but at the
end of it the grinning beast was beaten back to its lair.

Assignments

1.Comprehension & discussion questions:

1. How could you account for the difference between the two
brothers?
2. What did they have in common?

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