Ma Parker stood on the doormat inside the dark little hall, and she stretched out her hand to help her gentleman shut the door before she replied.

"We buried 'im yesterday, sir," she said quietly.
"Oh, dear me! I'm sorry to hear that," said the literary gentleman in a shocked tone.

He was in the middle of his breakfast.

He wore a very shabby dressing-gown and carried a crumpled newspaper in one hand.
But he felt awkward.

He could hardly go back to the warm sitting-room without saying something--something more.