Mande has recently seemed somewhat distracted.
Originally, he would take Little March for a walk every day after dinner, occasionally meeting Sheriff William, the neighbor, on the way, and they would even plan weekend fishing trips together.
But as he delved deeper into conversations with Old Mark, Mande no longer liked going out; and upon returning home, he would lock himself in the study, sometimes even forgetting to feed March until it whimpered and scratched at the door, reminding him.
The bookshelf became untidy, with books once compulsively organized by category now haphazardly piled on the floor and desk; the lily plant by the window had yellowing leaves, and dishes accumulated in the kitchen sink, faintly emitting a stench...
Even when prescribing medication for an elderly woman with a fever and cold recently, he made a mistake, only realizing it after a nurse reminded him.
