"Mother, are my things ready ?" he asked.
"Quite ready, James," she answered, keeping her eyes on her work.

For some months past she had felt ill at ease when she was alone with this rough stern son of hers.

Her shallow secret nature was troubled when their eyes met.

She used to wonder if he suspected anything.

The silence, for he made no other observation, became intolerable to her.
She began to complain.