His wife had taken a fancy to see him because of his remembered efforts to save her child.

Day said apologetically that it was a woman's whim, but he would be obliged if Caius, at his convenience, would call upon her.

It spoke much for the long peculiarity and dreariness of Day's domestic life that he evidently believed that this would be a disagreeable thing for Caius to do.
Day went on to the village.

Caius strolled off through the warm woods and across the hot cliffs to make this visit.
The woman was not in bed.

She was dying of consumption.