The eyes of the woman followed him anxiously.

He sat down again, and in response to her questioning gaze, began the story of Jock's life as he knew it.
Cawley stood leaning on the foot-board; the woman's face was cowled in the quilt with hungry eyes; and Gaston's voice went on in a low monotone, to the ticking of the great clock in the next room.

Gaston watched her face, and there came to him like an inspiration little things Jock did, which would mean more to his mother than large adventures.

Her lips moved now and again, even a smile flickered.

At last Gaston came to his father's own death and the years that followed; then the events in Labrador.
He approached this with unusual delicacy: it needed bravery to look into the mother's eyes, and tell the story.