That's my advice to you, Mr.Meddler." She smiled brightly at him as she threaded the line through the guides of the rod.
"I may not have lived as cleanly as I might have," he said soberly.

"I have been knocked about so much.

There were times when I grew tired of fighting.

But I have never done anything that will not stand daylight.
There was a time, Patty, when I came near making a fool of myself." He sat down, his legs swinging over the water.

"I drank more than was good for me." He stared into the brown water and watched the minnows as they darted hither and thither.