An orphan." Mrs.Fyne looked away weary and sombre, and Fyne said "Yes" impulsively, and then qualified the affirmative by the quaint statement: "To a certain extent." I became conscious of a languid, exhausted embarrassment, bowed to Mrs.
Fyne, and went out of the cottage to be confronted outside its door by the bespangled, cruel revelation of the Immensity of the Universe.

The night was not sufficiently advanced for the stars to have paled; and the earth seemed to me more profoundly asleep--perhaps because I was alone now.

Not having Fyne with me to set the pace I let myself drift, rather than walk, in the direction of the farmhouse.

To drift is the only reposeful sort of motion (ask any ship if it isn't) and therefore consistent with thoughtfulness.

And I pondered: How is one an orphan "to a certain extent"?
No amount of solemnity could make such a statement other than bizarre.
What a strange condition to be in.