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"Oh, you're not old," she had protested, but a quick mental calculation reminded her that he was nearly sixty

"Sometimes I feel very old—and tired"

But he still hadn't answered her question and Alanna had probed further "Is it mother? Are you worried about her?"

His light brows drew together in a line of hurt "I can't help worrying about her, Alanna" He had reached out and clasped her hand "I love her"

"I know, daddy" She had squeezed his hand affectionately "So do I"

"It's hard to accept that life doesn't go the e hope or even plan that it will" He had stared again into space "Your mother and I had such plans for our retirement There was so much I wanted to do for her and show her"

His voice had trailed off, but Alanna had finished the unspoken thought Her mother's weak heart had ended these plans Disappointued her father

"But she has you, daddy," Alanna had pointed out "And that's what she wants most of all"

"Yes," he had nodded absently, but the look in his eyes had said that he wanted to give her much more

It troubled hi and activities they had once planned And Alanna guessed that he regretted not doing much of it earlier when her mother had been able to take part

"There's no sense letting it upset you, dad," she had murmured

He hadn't replied and Alanna had let the subject drop

But it had eased her , her

"I think you should wear a hat," her father was saying "The sun can be pretty hot"

"I'm not made of ice cream I won't melt in the sun," Elinore Powell insisted in exasperation "I'll sit in the shade if it gets too warm"