But just then, as it happened, there were other matters to occupy her mind.

The baby became seriously ill over its teething, and, other infantile complications following, for some weeks it was doubtful whether she would survive.
Now Mary belonged to the class of woman which is generally known as "motherly," and adored her offspring almost to excess.

Consequently for those weeks she found plenty to think about without troubling herself over-much as to Morris and his experiments.

For these same reasons, perhaps, she scarcely noticed, seated as she was some distance away at the further end of the long table, how very ethereal her husband's appetite had become, or that, although he took wine as usual, it was a mere pretence, since he never emptied his glass.

The most loving of women can scarcely be expected to consider a man's appetite when that of a baby is in question, or, while the child wastes, to take note whether or no its father is losing flesh.