He looked closely at his mother. She looked ill.
"Why could you scarcely get home?" he asked her, still sharply. She would not answer.
"I found her as white as a sheet sitting here," said Annie, with a suggestion of tears in her voice.
"Well, why?" insisted Paul. His brows were knitting, his eyes dilating passionately.
"It was enough to upset anybody," said Mrs. Morel, "hugging those parcels—meat, and green-groceries, and a pair of curtains——"
"Well, why did you hug them; you needn't have done."
"Then who would?"
"Let Annie fetch the meat."
"Yes, and I would fetch the meat, but how was I to know? You were off with Miriam, instead of being in when my mother came."