Barbara nodded again.
“It’s not good enough,” cried Desmond. “This is no job for a girl like you, Barbara. The strain is too much; the risks are too great. Besides, there’s something I wanted to say...”
Barbara stopped him.
“Don’t say it!” she bade him.
“But you don’t know what I was going to say!” he protested.
Barbara smiled a little happy smile.
“Barbara...” Desmond began.
Her hand still rested on his shoulder and he put his hand over hers. For a brief moment she let him have his way.
Then she withdrew her hand.
“Desmond,” she said, looking at him with kindly eyes, “we both have work to do...”