He had a dirty woollen scarf round his throat.

So he stood at the foot of the bed.
"Well, how are ter, then ?" he asked.
"I s'll be all right," she answered.
"H'm!" He stood at a loss what to say next.

He was tired, and this bother was rather a nuisance to him, and he didn't quite know where he was.
"A lad, tha says," he stammered.
She turned down the sheet and showed the child.
"Bless him!" he murmured.

Which made her laugh, because he blessed by rote--pretending paternal emotion, which he did not feel just then.
"Go now," she said.
"I will, my lass," he answered, turning away.
Dismissed, he wanted to kiss her, but he dared not.

She half wanted him to kiss her, but could not bring herself to give any sign.