"Nothing particular." And he stood with his hand on the door as he answered her.
"And what did you say to her?"
"Nothing particular. Good heavens, mother, do you think that a man is in a condition to talk about such stuff as that at eight o'clock in the morning, when he has been up all night?"
"If you knew all that I suffer on your behalf you would speak a word to me," she said, imploring him, holding him by the arm, and looking into his purple face and bloodshot eyes. She was sure that he had been drinking. She could smell it in his breath.
"I must go to the old fellow, of course."
"She told you to go to her father?"

"Nothing particular." He stood with his hand on the door.
"And what did you say to her?"
"Nothing particular. Good heavens, mother, do you think a man is in a condition to talk about such stuff at eight o'clock in the morning, when he has been up all night?"
"If you knew all that I suffer on your behalf you would speak a word to me," she said, imploring him, holding him by the arm, and looking into his purple face and bloodshot eyes. She could smell the drink in his breath.
"I must go to the old fellow, of course."
"She told you to go to her father?"
