He was known for his writing skills.
The model headstone Atkinson has just finished carving bears Withencroft's full name, his date of birth, and that very day as the date of his death.
This passage allows us to see into the inner struggle and loneliness of the character. This is revealed in the phrase "interior gloom" while he faces the "open lattice" but he was not looking at anything at all. He was engrossed in his own thoughts and feelings of a closure or an ending of life implied in the phrase "the fire had smouldered to ashes." The surroundings was so silent and cold as revealed in the words "damp, mild air," "cloudy evening" and "so still."
I’m not sure but I need points so plz mark this as answer :)
