Sometimes he would go into the sick-room and look at her.

Then he backed out, bewildered.
She kept her hold on life still.

The miners had been out on strike, and returned a fortnight or so before Christmas.

Minnie went upstairs with the feeding-cup.

It was two days after the men had been in.
"Have the men been saying their hands are sore, Minnie ?" she asked, in the faint, querulous voice that would not give in.