He looked older than she thought, but remembering Festing's hints, she did not see the mark of dissipation she had expected.
Indeed, Charnock, having spent a sober month or two under Sadie's strict supervision, looked very well.

His face was brown, his eyes twinkled, and his figure was athletic.

He did not seem to need her pity, but she felt compassionate.

After all, she had loved him and he had married a girl from a bar.
"But where were you taking the plow ?" she asked.
"To the smith's; one of the free preemptors has a forge some distance off, and if I'm lucky, I may find him at home." "You won't find him at home if you stop here." "That's obvious," said Charnock.

"Still, you see, the plow's too heavy for me to lift out.