"Understand what?" Justine said.

"That your feelings are like a delicate flower that must be preserved," Stone said in a teasing tone.

She stuck her tongue out at him and wandered off to join another group of children.

Stone looked at Patrick with a sad face, and he knew the boy had spoken lightly to keep the depth of his feelings from Justine. Patrick put his hand on Stone's shoulder in silent sympathy. Then Stone ran off on some errand of his ...