In all my experience I have never met with such a firm woman, when she was once roused.
She entered on her business with us, wasting no time in preliminary words.

Her face showed plain signs, poor soul, of a wakeful and tearful night.

But she claimed no indulgence on that account.

When she spoke of her dead husband--excepting a slight unsteadiness in her voice--she controlled herself with a courage which was at once pitiable and admirable to see.
"You both know," she began, "that Mr.Wagner was a man who thought for himself.

He had ideas of his duty to his poor and afflicted fellow-creatures which are in advance of received opinions in the world about us.