Summary

Portrait of J. M. Barrie J. M. Barrie The Little White Bird — Chapter 26… (1902)

She shook her head and smiled. "On my soul," I assured her, "I can think of no other reason."
"A kind heart," said she.
"More likely a whim," said I.
"Or another woman," said she.
I was very much taken aback.
"More than twenty years ago," she said with a soft huskiness in her voice, and a tremor and a sweetness, as if she did not know that in twenty years all love stories are grown mouldy.
On my honour as a soldier this explanation of my early solicitude for Mary was one that had never struck me, but the more I pondered it now—.
Source: Wikisource

Portrait of J. M. Barrie J. M. Barrie The Little White Bird — Chapter 26… (1902)

"In twenty years," I said, smiling at her tears, "a man grows humble, Mary. I have stored within me a great fund of affection, with nobody to give it to, and I swear to you, on the word of a soldier, that if there is one of those ladies who can be got to care for me I shall be very proud." Despite her semblance of delight I knew that she was wondering at me, and I wondered at myself, but it was true.
Source: Wikisource

Portrait of J. M. Barrie J. M. Barrie The Little White Bird — Chapter 26… (1902)

Thus I cannot tell what happened, but presently David exclaimed admiringly, "Oh, mother, do it again!"
As she would not, he stood on the fender to see in the mantel-glass whether he could do it himself, and then Mary turned a most candid face on me, in which was maternity rather than reproach. Perhaps no look given by woman to man affects him quite so much.
Source: Wikisource

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