Lindquist had never seen a more pitiful, a more lost and lonely human being. At that moment he was more wretched than he had ever been in his life. The thought of all they had been to each other welled inside him. He crossed to her and put his arm around her, pulled her gently to him. “There, there, sweetheart, I didn’t mean it. Not a word. I lost my temper. We all say things we don’t mean to the ones we love most. And I do love you, Muriel dear. Don’t feel empty, little girl. You always, always, have me. And this whole thing is my fault.”
