He put both his arms about her and pressed her closely to him.
"Are you crying because I am going, my darling ?" he said.

"Good heavens! don't cry--I'm not worth it.

And yet I shall remember, when the world is between us, that you cried because I was going, you angel of mercy." An older woman than Nelly might have had the presence of mind to ask him why he was going.

But she was silent.

She felt it over-whelmingly sweet to be held so, to feel his hand smoothing her hair.