Then she turned bravely to meet his gaze, and Lane had never seen as sad eyes as looked into his.
"Daren, haven't you heard—about me?" she asked, with tremulous lips.
"No. What's wrong?"
"I—I can't let you call on me."
"Why not? Are you married—jealous husband?"
"No, I'm not married—but I—I have a baby," she whispered.
"Mel!" gasped Lane. "A war baby?"
"Yes."
Lane was so shocked he could not collect his scattered wits, let alone think of the right thing to say, if there were any right thing. "Mel, this is a—a terrible surprise. Oh, I'm sorry.... How the war played hell with all of us! But for you—Mel Iden—I can't believe it."
"Daren, so terribly true," she said. "Don't I look it?"