love for you? That you are not my cousin?--that my uncle is not
your own father? What does that matter to me? You are someone
else's child, and if we never know who that someone is, why should
we vex ourselves about it? You are you!--you are Innocent!--the
sweetest, dearest little girl that ever lived, and I adore you!
What difference does it make that you are not Uncle Hugo's
daughter?"

"It makes a great difference to me," she answered, sadly--"I do
not belong any more to the Sieur Amadis de Jocelin!"

Robin stared, amazed--then smiled.

"Why, Innocent!" he exclaimed--"Surely you're not worrying your
mind over that old knight, dead and gone more than three hundred
years ago! Dear little goose! How on earth does he come into this
trouble of yours?"

"He comes in everywhere!" she replied, clasping and unclasping her
hands nervously as she spoke. "You don't know, Robin!--you would
never understand! But I have loved the Sieur Amadis ever since I
can remember;--I have talked to him and studied with him!--I have
read his old books, and all the poems he wrote--and he seemed to
be my friend! I thought I was born of his kindred--and I was proud
of it--and I felt it would be my duty to live at Briar Farm always
because he would wish his line quite unbroken--and I think--
perhaps--yes, I think I might have married you and been a good
wife to you just for his sake!--and now it is all spoiled!--
because though you will be the master of Briar Farm, you will not
be the lineal descendant of the Sieur Amadis! No,--it is