Paul went to work, Arthur went to school, and Annie had in a friend to be with her.
On Saturday night, as Paul was turning the corner, coming home from Keston, he saw his mother and father, who had come to Sethley Bridge Station.

They were walking in silence in the dark, tired, straggling apart.

The boy waited.
"Mother!" he said, in the darkness.
Mrs.Morel's small figure seemed not to observe.

He spoke again.
"Paul!" she said, uninterestedly.
She let him kiss her, but she seemed unaware of him.
In the house she was the same--small, white, and mute.

She noticed nothing, she said nothing, only: "The coffin will be here to-night, Walter.