The sound of conversation awoke him. He opened his eyes. He was in the armchair still, covered by a blue blanket. Between his legs, wrapped in a piece of worn yellow cloth, the hot water bottle rested.
Noni and his niece were sitting near the window, laughing softly. Before them were arrayed cups, the remains of a sweet, some savories. Noni’s face was flushed with the emotion that only dabbling in the mystery of her fate could arouse! Her eyes shone with an insatiable curiosity. The girl was paler and more transparent than she had been when she had lived with them. In other respects she did not seem to have changed. He just found her a little plumper. It was understandable. With all the deprivations which that colourless husband must have imposed on her…
He got up and silently went and s
