[She can see that he is putting up a brave face, but she's known him and his illness for so long now ... She puts a warm hand on his shoulder and squeezes it.]

I always seem to bring you bad new, do I not ?

[She rummages in her puch some more, and takes out ... a small bottle of sake and two cups.]

Would you care to share a drink with a friend, and talk, as we often did before ?