Her pity, the first he had received, had an unexpected effect on him. It nearly unmanned him—he put up his hands to her neck, and drew down her face to him, while his body shuddered.
"Nigel ... did she know?"
"No, never—thank God!"
She stroked his hair, and held his head against her breast.
"It was a hopeless dream, Janey."
She could not contradict him.
"But it helped me."
"Then it was a good dream."
He gently slipped himself free.
"And now we'll say no more about it."