These people never believe anything; the police never do." She gazed at him thoughtfully, with eyes compassionate and full of tenderness.

They were a balm to his unhappy spirit.
The hardness slowly vanished from his face.

It became merely troubled.

He walked quickly across the room, dropped into the seat beside her and put an arm round her.
"You're a damned sight too good for me, Lizzie," he said in a gentler voice than she had ever heard him use before, and he kissed her.
"Poor Jim!" she said.

And again: "Poor Jim!" He trembled, breathing quickly, and held her tight.
After a while he regained control of himself, and sat upright.