It was a lamentable wail: "No one to love, none to caress, Left all alone in this world's wilderness." As he paused to strop his razor, Marcus came into his room, half-dressed, a startling phantom in red flannels.
Marcus often ran back and forth between his room and the dentist's "Parlors" in all sorts of undress.

Old Miss Baker had seen him thus several times through her half-open door, as she sat in her room listening and waiting.

The old dressmaker was shocked out of all expression.

She was outraged, offended, pursing her lips, putting up her head.

She talked of complaining to the landlady.