She always used to have changed her dress and put on a black apron, before.

Now Annie set his supper, and his mother sat looking blankly in front of her, her mouth shut tight.

Then he beat his brains for news to tell her.
"Mother, Miss Jordan was down to-day, and she said my sketch of a colliery at work was beautiful." But Mrs.Morel took no notice.

Night after night he forced himself to tell her things, although she did not listen.

It drove him almost insane to have her thus.