She was clinging to him very tightly.

He could feel her fingers straining upon each other.

He stroked them gently.
"All right, little girl.

All right," he said.
His tone must have reassured her, for she slipped round and knelt beside him.

"I'd like you to kiss me," she said, and lifted a pale face and tear-bright eyes to his, He took her head between his hands, and she saw that he was moved.
He bent in silence, and would have kissed her brow, but she raised her lips instead.