Shebroughtthestranger, whoseemedillatease, , andlistenedinapreoccupiedfashionastheoldladyapologizedfortheappearanceoftheroom, andherhusbandscoat, , forhimtobroachhisbusiness, buthewasatfrststrangelysilent.
“I-wasaskedtocall，”hesaidatlast, andstoopedandpickedapieceofcottonfromhistrousers.“IcomefromMawandMeggins.”
Theoldladystarted.“Isanythingthematter?”sheaskedbreathlessly.“HasanythinghappenedtoHerbert?Whatisit?Whatisit?”
Herhusbandinterposed.“There, there, mother，”hesaidhastily.“Sitdown, anddon‘’venotbroughtbadnews, Imsure, sir.”andheeyedtheotherwistfully.
“Imsorry……”beganthevisitor.
“Ishehurt?”demandedthemother.
Thevisitorbowedinassent.“Badlyhurt，”hesaidquietly，“butheisnotinanypain.”
“Oh, thankGod！”saidtheoldwoman, claspingherhands.“ThankGodforthat！Thank……”
, andturningtoherslower-wittedhusband, .
“Hewascaughtinthemachinery，”saidthevisitoratlength, inalowvoice.
“Caughtinthemachinery，”, inadazedfashion，“yes.”
Hesatstaringblanklyoutatthewindow, andtakinghiswifeshandbetweenhisown, presseditashehadbeenwonttodointheiroldcourtingdaysnearlyfortyyearsbefore.
“Hewastheonlyonelefttous，”hesaid, turninggentlytothevisitor.“Itishard.”
Theothercoughed, andrising, walkedslowlytothewindow.“Thefirmwishedmetoconveytheirsinceresympathywithyouinyourgreatloss，”hesaid, withoutlookinground.“IbegthatyouwillunderstandIamonlytheirservantandmerelyobeyingorders.”
