An' I reckon ..." At this juncture Jean in his earnestness and quite without thought grasped her hand.

The contact checked the flow of his speech and suddenly made him aghast at his temerity.

But the girl did not make any effort to withdraw it.

So Jean, inhaling a deep breath and trying to see through his bewilderment, held on bravely.

He imagined he felt a faint, warm, returning pressure.