- Since no one answers the front door when Tom knocks on it, he goes around to look in through the kitchen window.
- Tom sees Mrs. Breen inside wrapped in blankets. She recognizes him and moves sloooowly (we're talking turtle speed) to let him in.
- She says she's glad to see him, and that she knew his mom back in "livelier" days. She also says she would offer him tea, but she's just about run out of wood for the fire, and she can't get down to the barn to fetch more because of all the snow and because of how stiff she's been feeling.
- Tom offers to bring more wood up from the barn.
- Tom worries about Mrs. Breen's situation in that house all alone. She refuses his offers to help, insisting she has plenty to think about and plenty of food. She wants to stay in the house she's been here for so long.
- They have tea, and then Tom heads back home.