He and Annie guarded her fiercely.

They would not let anybody come to see her, and the neighbours were offended.
After a while Paul went out of the house, and played cards at a friend's.

It was midnight when he got back.

His father rose from the couch as he entered, saying in a plaintive way: "I thought tha wor niver comin', lad." "I didn't think you'd sit up," said Paul.
His father looked so forlorn.

Morel had been a man without fear--simply nothing frightened him.