Coral Pike put her hand over her mouth and turned away for a moment.

Then she said, “I’ve never seen her.”

“I know.”

“I’ve written twice. I don’t blame the girl. I want to say that. I don’t blame her one bit, and I’d never ask, and I’m not asking you.” She got herself back.

“I raised him. That’s the thing I can’t get around. Whatever he is, I made a good deal of it.”

“You don’t know that.”