"Come now, be good, sweet child," he said in a comforting tone. "Speak ... unburden your heart."
She sighed heavily and turned her little head slightly towards his shoulder as if she would like to nestle there.
"Just the same as she was then," he thought--"shy and defiant, but completely melted by kindness."
She was still silent
"Look here," he said, "I live under the same roof with you, but of your life, of your past, I know absolutely nothing."
"You have never asked me about it," she replied.
"Would you have told me if I had?"
"Of course I would.... I will tell you now, this minute, if you like."
She disengaged herself from his arm; an eager blissful smile lit up her face.
"Of course I should like it. So fire away."