He's wonderfully grateful to you, Reade.

Do you know why ?" "Haven't an idea." "Well, Tim's sheet anchor in life is a little girl." "Sweetheart ?" "After a fashion," laughed the young doctor.

"The girl is his daughter, eight years old.

She's everything to Tim, for his wife is dead.

The child lives with somewhat distant relatives, in a New England town.
Tim sends all his spare money to her, and so the child is probably well looked after.