Page 572 - sons-and-lovers

time there is a train in the afternoon?’
‘There is a Central gets in at four-fifteen.’
‘And will there be any way of getting up to the house?
Shall I have to walk?’ The doctor smiled.
‘There is the tram,’ said Paul; ‘the Western Park tram.’
The doctor made a note of it.
‘Thank you!’ he said, and shook hands.
Then Paul went on home to see his father, who was left
in the charge of Minnie. Walter Morel was getting very grey
now. Paul found him digging in the garden. He had written
him a letter. He shook hands with his father.
‘Hello, son! Tha has landed, then?’ said the father.
‘Yes,’ replied the son. ‘But I’m going back to-night.’
‘Are ter, beguy!’ exclaimed the collier. ‘An’ has ter eaten
owt?’
‘No.’
‘That’s just like thee,’ said Morel. ‘Come thy ways in.’
The father was afraid of the mention of his wife. The two
went indoors. Paul ate in silence; his father, with earthy
hands, and sleeves rolled up, sat in the arm-chair opposite
and looked at him.
‘Well, an’ how is she?’ asked the miner at length, in a
little voice.
‘She can sit up; she can be carried down for tea,’ said
Paul.
‘That’s a blessin’!’ exclaimed Morel. ‘I hope we s’ll soon
be havin’ her whoam, then. An’ what’s that Nottingham
doctor say?’
‘He’s going to-morrow to have an examination of her.’

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