Twilight Sleep
"Don't. There's nothing to say."
She felt a tremor of his shoulders as they pressed against her, and, the tremor ran through her own body and seemed to loosen the fibres of her heart.
"Old dad."
"Nona."
After that they remained again without speaking till a clock chimed out from somewhere in the shadows. Manford got up. He gave himself one of his impatient shakes, and stooped to kiss his daughter on the forehead.
"I don't believe I'll come up again before we go."
"No."
"It's no use—"
"No."
"I'll look after your mother—do all I can. . . Goodbye, dear."
"Goodbye, father."
He groped for her forehead again, and went out of the room; and she closed her eyes and lay in the darkness, her heart folded like two hands around the thought of him.
"Nona, darling!" There were still the goodbyes to her mother to be gone through. Well, that would be comparatively easy; and in a lighted room too, with Pauline on the threshold, slim, erect and consciously equipped for travel—complete and wonderful! Yes; it would be almost easy.
"Child, it's time; we're off in a few minutes.
