Now, what will you have ?' He helped her to whatever she liked best, but could eat scarcely anything himself.

It was sufficient for him to watch Jerry sitting there in Gretchen's chair and using Gretchen's plate, which every day for so many years had been laid for her.

Gretchen had not come.

She would never come, he feared, but with Jerry he did not feel half as desolate as when alone, with only his morbid fancies for company.

And he must have her there, at least a portion of the time.