It was more hearty, I thought.

Certainly he regarded me with a new and curious interest.
"Morning, Ros," he said.

"Well, how are you these days ?" I answered that I was well, and was moving on but he detained me.
"Lively times ahead, hey," he whispered.
"What sort of times ?" I asked.
He winked.

"I guess you know, if anybody does," he observed.

"All right, you'll have good friends on your side.