"I—I didn't quite hear—" she whispered hoarsely.
He glanced, his blue eyes desperate, across at Nell, then down at the wild, incredulous little face upturned to his. His eyes cleared, grew deeply tender.
"I said that you shall go." His voice was clear, firm. "Directly your cold has gone I will take you across for a few days if you still want to go."
She dropped suddenly forward against his chest.
"Please hold me." Her faint little whisper told of sudden ineffable peace.
They wrapped her in blankets, and he took her into his arms and walked up and down the room with her. She pulled her arm out of the coverings and stroked his cheek with a gesture almost of adoration.
"I don't think," a sudden passionate whisper came from her, "God can be quite so nice as you!"
Up and down he went.
"Try to go to sleep, Atom."
"Yes, Denis."