He was more agile than strong, but it served.

He fingered a piece of apple-blossom that hung low on a swinging bough.
"I wouldn't get the apple-blossom," said Edgar, the eldest brother.
"There'll be no apples next year." "I wasn't going to get it," replied Paul, going away.
The boys felt hostile to him; they were more interested in their own pursuits.

He wandered back to the house to look for his mother.

As he went round the back, he saw Miriam kneeling in front of the hen-coop, some maize in her hand, biting her lip, and crouching in an intense attitude.

The hen was eyeing her wickedly.