The short story "The Open Window" by Saki a.k.a. H. H. Munro is about the main character Framton Nuttel and his retreat to the countryside. The story is a hilarious yet horrific experience for Nuttel who became the latest victim of the playful niece, Vera's love of storytelling.
Framton Nuttel has been advised by his doctor to not exert himself mentally. In a bid to cure his nervous condition, he had gone to the countryside to relax and calm himself. And to make himself acquainted with the neighbors of that retreat, his sister had written letters of introduction to help him in his social calls.
"Focused on helping his neighbors" is a participial phrase. A phrase is made up of a group of words, without a subject and a verb. It functions as a single part of speech. A phrase consists of a participle and includes modifiers and complements.
