The little girl stood regarding her mother In the greatest distress and perplexity.
“But what will he do, Mam?” she asked.
“Nothing. Don’t bother. Run and play with Marjory now. Do you want a nice plum?”
She took a yellow plum from the table. Gwen accepted it without a word. She was too much perplexed.
“What do you say?” asked her mother.
“Thank you,” replied the child, turning away.
Siegmund sighed with relief when he was again left alone. He twisted in his chair, and sighed again, trying to drive out the intolerable clawing irritability from his belly.
“Ah, this is horrible!” he said.
He stiffened his muscles to quieten them.
“I’ve never been like this before. What is the matter?” he asked himself.