He patted her hand. It was hard for him to speak.
She saw his emotion. "Is—is it because I am going to marry Derry?"
"That, and more than that. Jean, dear, I must go to France—"
"To France?"
"Yes. They want me to head a hospital. I don't see how I can refuse, and keep my self-respect. But it means—leaving you."
"Leaving me—"
"My little girl—don't look like that." He reached out his arms to her.
She came, and clung to him. "How soon?"
"As soon as I can wind things up here."
"It—it seems as if I couldn't let you."