“But she must be sure of her love. I trust you, Joe, to make that point clear to her.”
“I think you may trust her for that.”
“She will act up to her conviction but she is young—younger than her years. And I—without my eyes—I can’t be much of a father.” He reached for Barnes’ hand.
“You must be son and father and brother all in one, Joe.”
“I’ll do my best,” answered Barnes.
“I know you will, boy. I know you will. You’ve grown wonderfully in these last five years. But I think you would have grown just the same if you had not gone away. The fault was mine. I didn’t stay young enough for you.”
“You seem very young to me now.”
“Ah, yes. I’ve grown young. That is the secret I’ve worked out in the dark; as the son grows old, the father must grow young.”
The Princess stalked into the room and jumped upon the bed. The father reached out to stroke her back and faced the door for Eleanor. She entered with the blush of the morning in her cheeks. She nodded with a smile at Barnes and then with a little laugh pressed her lips against her father’s forehead.
“Dad,” she exclaimed, “you look so much better. You look so much better every morning.”