Since his return from the war he had without knowledge been yearning for just such an understanding touch as this child with her womanly instinct had given him.

He withdrew one hand from the wheel and took the warm clinging fingers tight in his and waited in silence till he was sure of himself.

He drove some blocks before he was quite master of his voice.
Then, releasing the fingers, he turned his face toward the girl.
"You are a real pal, aren't you, Patsy old girl ?" he said with a very bright smile at her.
"I want to be! Oh, I would love to be!" she said, with a swift intake of breath.

"And after a while you will be just as you were before you went away." "Hardly, I fear, Patsy." "Well, not the same, but different from what you are now.

No, I don't mean that a bit, Captain Jack.