`` Have you been lonely , Father ? '' said Mrs. Falconer tenderly . He shook his head , still smiling . `` No , not lonely . These '' -- pointing to the blocks -- `` are so pretty . See my house , Mother . '' This man was Mrs. Falconer 's husband . Once he had been one of the smartest , most intelligent men in Lindsay , and one of the most trusted employees of the railroad company . Then there had been a train collision . Malcolm Falconer was taken out of the wreck fearfully injured . He eventually recovered physical health , but he was from that time forth merely a child in intellect -- a harmless , kindly creature , docile and easily amused . Mrs. Falconer tried to dismiss the thought of Camilla Clark from her mind , but it would not be dismissed . Her conscience reproached her continually . She tried to compromise with it by saying that she would go down and see Camilla that evening and take her some nice fresh Irish moss jelly . It was so good for delicate people . She found Camilla alone in the Barry sitting-room , and noticed with a feeling that was almost like self-reproach how thin and frail and white the poor young creature looked . Why , she seemed little more than a child ! Her great dark eyes were far too big for her wasted face , and her hands were almost transparent . `` I 'm not much better yet , '' said Camilla tremulously , in response to Mrs. Falconer 's inquiries . `` Oh , I 'm so slow getting well !
And I know -- I feel that I 'm a burden XXXXX everybody . ''
Camilla Mother for from in like of than to with