It seemed only something one read about in books until Donal came.

You and Mademoiselle made me happy, but I was like a little nun." She paused a moment and then said thoughtfully, "Do you know, Dowie, I have never touched a baby ?" "I never thought of it before," Dowie answered with a slightly caught breath, "but I believe you never have." The girl leaned forward and her own light breath came a shade more quickly, and the faint colour on her cheek flickered into a sweeter warm tone.
"Are they very soft, Dowie ?" she asked--and the asking was actually a wistful thing.

"When you hold them do they feel very light--and soft--and warm?
When you kiss them isn't it something like kissing a little flower ?" "That's what it is," said Dowie firmly as one who knows.

"A baby that's loved and taken care of is just nothing but fine soft lawns and white downiness with the scent of fresh violets under leaves in the rain." A vaguely dreamy smile touched Robin's face and she bent over the pictures again.
"I felt as if they must be like that though I had never held one," she murmured.

"And Donal--told me." She did not say when he had told her but Dowie knew.