Pierson drew away his hand; the words hurt, from reminder of his loss,
from reminder of the poor substitute he was.

"Look, Nollie!" he said. "After all these years since she left us, I'm
as lonely as ever, because we were really one. If you marry this young
man without knowing more of your own hearts than you can in such a
little time, you may regret it dreadfully; you may find it turn out,
after all, nothing but a little empty passion; or again, if anything
happens to him before you've had any real married life together, you'll
have a much greater grief and sense of loss to put up with than if you
simply stay engaged till after the war. Besides, my child, you're much
too young."

She sat so still that he looked at her in alarm. "But I must!"

He bit his lips, and said sharply: "You can't, Nollie!"

She got up, and before he could stop her, was gone. With the closing of
the door, his anger evaporated, and distress took its place. Poor child!
What to do with this wayward chicken just out of the egg, and wanting to
be full-fledged at once? The thought that she would be lying miserable,
crying, perhaps, beset him so that he went out into the passage and
tapped on her door. Getting no answer, he went in. It was dark but for
a streak of moonlight, and in that he saw her, lying on her bed, face
down; and stealing up laid his hand on her head. She did not move; and,
stroking her hair, he said gently:

"Nollie dear, I didn't mean to be harsh. If I were your mother, I should
know how to make you see, but I'm only an old bumble-daddy."