Her shoulders heaved spasmodically.
Thus passed three minutes, then she again began rubbing the soapy garment.
"If you don't mind, I'll smoke," said Martin.

"What's your baby's name?
Bill?
Here, Bill!" He placed his little finger in the baby's hand.
"Feeding him yourself ?" "Yes, sir." "What's his number ?" "I've lost three, sir; there's only his brother Stanley now." "One a year ?" "No, Sir.

I missed two years in the war, of course." "Hughs wounded out there ?" "Yes, sir--in the head." "Ah! And fever ?" "Yes, Sir." Martin tapped his pipe against his forehead.

"Least drop of liquor goes to it, I suppose ?" Mrs.Hughs paused in the dipping of a cloth; her tear-stained face expressed resentment, as though she had detected an attempt to find excuses for her husband.
"He didn't ought to treat me as he does," she said.
All three now stood round the bed, over which the baby presided with solemn gaze.
Thyme said: "I wouldn't care what he did, Mrs.Hughs; I wouldn't stay another day if I were you.

It's your duty as a woman." To hear her duty as a woman Mrs.Hughs turned; slow vindictiveness gathered on her thin face.
"Yes, miss ?" she said.