"Yes, dear," said Nancy; and her tears fell.
Suddenly Anne-Marie flew to the door. "Father!" she cried in a shrill treble voice.
Aldo, on the stairs, heard and stood still. His hand gripped the bannisters, his heart leaped to his throat.
"Father!"
He turned slowly, doubtingly.
"Father!" came the treble voice again; and he mounted the steps, and went trembling and stumbling along the passage. Anne-Marie was standing at the door.
"Do you think," she said, "you could catch my balloon before you go?"
He caught her balloon. Then he went—out of the room, out of their lives, out of the story.