It fell a' back of him, an' shut 'im in as you might shut a loaf i' th' oven. It never touched him.

MRS. HOLROYD (staring distractedly)

Well, then—

RIGLEY

You see, it come on 'im as close as a trap on a mouse, an' gen him no air, an' what wi' th' gas, it smothered him. An' it wouldna be so very long about it neither.

MRS. HOLROYD (quiet with horror)

Oh!

GRANDMOTHER

Eh, dear—dear. Eh, dear—dear.

RIGLEY (looking hard at her)