. . . Robert and Howard, who carried on around him, delivering tea and biscuits

[shootingstar]

He let the routine of his days carry him. From one lesson to another, to lunch, usually on his own if he got his way, though sometimes he put up with someone's small talk. Then straight home, his bag heavy with textbooks, to a warm. quiet welcome from Robert and Howard, who carried on around him, delivering tea and biscuits and taking a quick glance at the work he was doing.

(From A Terrible Kindness by Jo Browning Wroe, Part III Family Business, chapter 34)

I don't understand what "who carried on around him" means in this context. I know the verb "carry on" but that doesn't make any sense there in my opinion.

 

[Skrej]

'Carry on' has several different meanings, and one of them makes perfect sense here. Which meanings are you familiar with?

 

[shootingstar]

carry on (with) : continue doing something/continue moving/ to argue or complain /have sexual relationship with

 

[Skrej]

It can also mean to act or behave in a foolish or excited way, which is the definition that applies here.

See Webster intransitive definition #2 or Cambridge second (behave) verb entry.

 

[shootingstar]

Maybe It could mean "they made a fuss about him" in this context?

 

[emsr2d2]

Maybe It Could it mean "they made a fuss about of him" in this context?

In my opinion, that's what it means. They busied themselves with doing things that were helpful to him.
I have to disagree with Skrej - bringing tea and biscuits to someone isn't evidence of behaving in an excited or foolish way.

 

[shootingstar]

Maybe It Could it mean "they made a fuss about of him" in this context?

Couldn't I regard "Maybe it could mean 'they made a fuss of him' in this context?" as a statement question with a rising intonation at the end?

 

[5jj]

That's a very awkward way of asking a question in writing. The reader does not know it's a question until the final punctuation mark.

 

[emsr2d2]

Couldn't I regard "Maybe it could mean 'they made a fuss of him' in this context?" as a statement question with a rising intonation at the end?

Whilst many native speakers do that a lot in speech (it's more common in some variants than others), it doesn't really work in writing (as 5jj said). Also, we discourage learners from using non-standard constructions and word orders, especially on the forum.

 

[Skrej]

In my opinion, that's what it means. They busied themselves with doing things that were helpful to him.
I have to disagree with Skrej - bringing tea and biscuits to someone isn't evidence of behaving in an excited or foolish way.

Couldn't I regard "Maybe it could mean 'they made a fuss over him' in this context?" as a statement question with a rising intonation at the end?

That's exactly how I took it - they're carrying on fussing over him. Note the Cambridge definition allows for being worried or nervous. They're busy trying to be helpful, but overdoing it. It suggests he (or perhaps the narrator) finds it a bit excessive.

 

[emsr2d2]

That's exactly how I took it - they're carrying on fussing over him. Note the Cambridge definition allows for being worried or nervous. They're busy trying to be helpful, but overdoing it. It suggests he (or perhaps the narrator) finds it a bit excessive.

That's not what I took this to mean:

It can also mean to act or behave in a foolish or excited way, which is the definition that applies here.

 

[Skrej]

It's a matter of perspective on what one considers foolish or excited, isn't it?

He seems to be running on autopilot, surviving on routine and preferring to be alone, merely 'putting up with' small talk. It doesn't seem much of a stretch to me that anyone in such a mindset would regard things like serving tea and biscuits and other such banalities as needless background noise, and thus foolish.

I know if I'm in a funk or otherwise having a bad day, and just want to be left alone, pretty much everything everyone else does seems foolish or unnecessary - even things I'd normally consider helpful or be appreciative of.