“The pain of it—I know.”
She was sobbing now, her slender body quivering under his caress.
“Don’t, Jane,” he whispered. “Don’t cry. Don’t!”
But she smiled up at him through her tears.
“Let me, Phil, I—I’m so happy.”
He soothed her gently and held her close in his arms, her head against his breast, as he would have held that of a tired child. After a time she relaxed and lay quiet.
“You’re glad?” he asked.
There was no reply.
“Are you glad?” he repeated.