When Fred died, Molly mentally prepared to console George, setting aside her own grief so she could wipe away his tears. Those tears never came. George seemed to be a shadow of his old self. He had withdrawn deep inside himself, as though trying to escape the reality of his brother's death. More than his silence, however, Molly was pained by George's behaviour. He was always polite and obedient; his mischievous side seemed to have died along with Fred. Without his twin, fun and laughter had lost all meaning for him. It broke her heart to see her son like this and, at times, she felt like she had lost not one, but both of her sons.