i was nine at the time ; we 'd been playing on a rope swing and jumping into a little lake not far from our houses . he told me the most remarkable story-so remarkable it can not be true . `` and now i 'm afraid the storm will hit dead-on . '' she was a grown woman with power of her own . she 'd promised herself she 'd keep her distance , but knowing he 'd extended himself to his other family , in a sense for her , she had to see him . 