“We stays in bed as long as we can, sir—to keep warm, you know—to keep warm.”
The old man nodded from the black ruin of a bed.
“But I see you have no blankets.”
“All gone, sir—all gone.”
“Had you no savings out of that thirty-three years?”
“Family, sir—family; four sons an’ two daughters; never more than thirty shillin’s a week. He always gave me his wages—Father always gave me his wages.”
“I never was one to drink.”
“Sober man, Father; an’ now he’s old. But ’e can work, sir; ’e can work.”
“But can’t your sons help you?”
“One’s dead, sir; died of fever. And one”—her withered finger touched her forehead—“not quite—you know, not quite——”