What shocked him even more were the deep-sunken eyes and the hollows in the cheeks and about the brows.

All the laugh and sparkle of the once joyous, beautiful girl he had known were gone.

Only the gentle voice was left.
Martha was now back, kneeling on the floor, untying the shabby shoes, rubbing the small, delicately shaped feet in her plump hands to rest and warm them.

"There, my lamb, that's better," he heard her say, as she drew on the heelless slippers.

"I'll have tea in a minute.