“Yes,” said Frank, a touch of sadness coming to his handsome face; “I realized it, for I was all alone in the world till we met. I have had more courage since.”
Something in the way she said the words smote Frank with a sensation of pain. He had not thought of that.
“I suppose so,” he said, slowly; “it always happens so. Our early friendships are broken, and we are separated from those without whom we often fancied we could not exist. In time we form other attachments, which, in turn, may be broken.”
“What is it that you know, dear little girl?”
“I know we can never care for anyone as we care for you. I know it, Frank!”
She reached up her slender arms as he bent down to kiss her, clasping them about his neck and straining him close to her with all her childish strength. He was surprised, for this was quite unlike her; she usually demonstrated her affection by a gentle touch or a whispered word.
“You are overwrought, Nellie,” he said, gently. “Your nerves are all unstrung. It is too bad that that man followed Jack here to-night.”
“No; I am glad of it,” she declared, with her eyes upturned to his face, as if she were trying to pierce the black veil between them. “I do not think it will hurt me, and I shall have a chance to try to save him from certain ruin. It is his last chance. If I fail----”
“If you fail, dear little girl, an angel from heaven could not save him!”
Her lips quivered, and then a slow smile came and lingered on her pale face.
“You do care for me, don’t you, Frank?” she eagerly asked.
“Care for you? Nellie, I love you as if you were my own--sister.”
“How lonely it must have been! Just think what if I had not Jack. I love him, and he loves me. But I love you just as much, dear Frank.”
She reached up her hands and placed them on either side of his face, holding them there.
“There,” she softly breathed, “now I know I am looking straight at you, and I fancy I can see you. You are so manly and so noble! Your eyes are dark brown, and so is your hair. Your mouth is tender, but firm, without a hard line about it. You have a high, wide forehead, which is fair and unlined. You are young, and you will always remain young, for your heart will not let you grow old.”
“Why, Nellie, how do you know my eyes are brown--my hair is brown?”