The morning departure

An original fiction passage set in the nineteenth century.

Mrs Blake checked the buckle on her son’s bag. It had already been fastened twice. She asked whether he had his ticket, his gloves and the address of the lodging house. He answered each question patiently. The carriage waited outside, its driver rubbing his hands against the cold. There was no further reason to delay.

At the door, she brushed an imaginary speck from his collar. He bent to kiss her, and she told him to write as soon as he arrived. After the carriage turned the corner, she went back to the table. His cup remained beside her own. She washed both carefully, then placed only one on the shelf they usually shared.

Analyse how the writer uses language and structure to show the mother’s restrained response to her son leaving. Support your answer with references to the passage.