Page:The Mystery of Central Park.djvu/168

162 patting them soothingly, not daring to say a word.

"T-they would come," she faltered, her mouth bravely smiling while her eyes were filling with tears. "I—I could not help it."

He still said nothing, but kept on patting her hands, half embarrassed now.

"I was so—so wretched until you found me, and I've been so happy since, that—that I couldn't quite bear—your words."

"I hope I did not speak roughly," poor, blind Dick said, hardly understanding her grief. In his separation from her he was losing nothing, but she—poor child—she was losing everything.

"No—that's it. You are so kind," she faltered. "Don't, please, don't mind me. I am so foolish. I am always crying, don't you think?"

She looked up at him with a sad, little smile that made his heart ache, he hardly knew why.