He did not care any longer what the family thought or felt.
The tea-things were on the table.

William was reading aloud from "The Child's Own", Annie listening and asking eternally "why ?" Both children hushed into silence as they heard the approaching thud of their father's stockinged feet, and shrank as he entered.

Yet he was usually indulgent to them.
Morel made the meal alone, brutally.

He ate and drank more noisily than he had need.

No one spoke to him.