Though his affection for her was deep and strong, they had never learned to be demonstrative with each other, perhaps because they had been separated so much in childhood and early youth. It was almost with a hesitating gesture that he put out his hand now and touched her hair.
"My dear, you know you can trust me."
"Yes, I know." The words broke from her with a sob, and turning hastily away, she ran out of the room and back up the stairs.
CHAPTER II
Readjustments
IN Letty's nursery the next afternoon, Blackburn came at last to know Caroline without the barrier of her professional manner. The child was playing happily with her paper dolls in one corner, and while she marched them back and forth along a miniature road of blocks, she sang under her breath a little song she had made.
Oh, my,
I'd like to fly
Very high
In the sky,
Just you and I.
"I am very cold," said Blackburn, as he entered. "Mammy Riah has promised me a cup of tea if I am good."
"You are always good, father," replied Letty politely, but she did not rise from the floor. "I'm sorry I can't stop, but Mrs. Brown is just taking her little girl to the hospital. If I were to get up the poor little thing might die on the way."
"That must not happen. Perhaps Miss Meade will entertain me?"
"I will do my best." Caroline turned from her writing and took up a half-finished sock. "If you had come an hour earlier you might have seen some of Mrs. Blackburn's lovely clothes. She was showing us the dress she is going to wear to dinner to-night."