The gentle grip of his big strong hand expressed more tenderly than any words the sympathy that lay in his heart for the woman he loved.

Shirley said quietly: "You have come at last, Jefferson." "I came as soon as I could," he replied gently.

"I saw father only yesterday." "You need not tell me what he said," Shirley hastened to say.
Jefferson made no reply.

He understood what she meant.

He hung his head and hit viciously with his walking stick at the pebbles that lay at his feet.