"
He tried to speak cheerfully, but indeed it was not easy with
that sad little face before him. Madelon did not answer; she
only leant her head against the wooden bars of the grating,
and sobbed in the most miserable, heart-broken way. It made
Graham quite unhappy to see her.
"Don't cry so, Madelon," he kept on saying, almost as much
distressed as she was, "I cannot bear to see you cry." And
indeed he could not, for the kind-hearted young fellow had a
theory that children and dogs and birds and all such
irresponsible creatures should be happy as the day is long,
and there seemed something too grievous in this overpowering
distress in little Madelon. She checked herself a little
presently, however, drawing back one hand to wipe away her
tears, while she clung to him tightly with the other. He began
to talk to her again as soon as she was able to listen, saying
everything he could to cheer and encourage her, telling her
what he was going to do, and how he would write to her, and
she must write to him, and tell him all about herself, and how
she must be a good little girl, and study very hard, and learn
all sorts of things, and how he would certainly come back some
day and see her.
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