Meanwhile, don't take it too much to heart, dear.

It may not be half so bad as you think.
School-children always get things like that exaggerated, you must remember," he finished, speaking with a lightness that he did not feel.
To himself the man owned that he was troubled, seriously troubled.

He had to admit that Jill's story bore the earmarks of truth; and overwhelmingly he realized now just how big a place this somewhat puzzling small boy had come to fill in his own heart.

He did not need Jill's anxious "Now, hurry, Jack," the next morning to start him off in all haste for the Holly farmhouse.

A dozen rods from the driveway he met Perry Larson and stopped him abruptly.
"Good morning, Larson; I hope this isn't true--what I hear--that David is very ill." Larson pulled off his hat and with his free hand sought the one particular spot on his head to which he always appealed when he was very much troubled.
"Well, yes, sir, I'm afraid 't is, Mr.Jack--er--Mr.Gurnsey, I mean.
He is turrible sick, poor little chap, an' it's too bad--that's what it is--too bad!" "Oh, I'm sorry! I hoped the report was exaggerated.