As he kneeled in front of her he did not cry, but the tears ran down his face quickly.
Morel, on the opposite side of the room, sat with his elbows on his knees glaring across.
"What's a-matter with 'er ?" he asked.
"Faint!" replied Paul.
"H'm!" The elderly man began to unlace his boots.

He stumbled off to bed.

His last fight was fought in that home.
Paul kneeled there, stroking his mother's hand.
"Don't be poorly, mother--don't be poorly!" he said time after time.
"It's nothing, my boy," she murmured.
At last he rose, fetched in a large piece of coal, and raked the fire.
Then he cleared the room, put everything straight, laid the things for breakfast, and brought his mother's candle.
"Can you go to bed, mother ?" "Yes, I'll come." "Sleep with Annie, mother, not with him." "No.

I'll sleep in my own bed." "Don't sleep with him, mother." "I'll sleep in my own bed." She rose, and he turned out the gas, then followed her closely upstairs, carrying her candle.

On the landing he kissed her close.
"Good-night, mother." "Good-night!" she said.
He pressed his face upon the pillow in a fury of misery.