She was doing nothing more important, apparently, than making holes in a piece of white cloth, and sewing them up again with a needle and thread.
David had then asked Mr.Holly to go; but his refusal was even more strangely impatient than his wife's had been.
"And why, pray, should I go for a useless walk now--or any time, for that matter ?" he demanded sharply.
David had shrunk back unconsciously, though he had still smiled.
"Oh, but it wouldn't be a useless walk, sir.

Father said nothing was useless that helped to keep us in tune, you know." "In tune!" "I mean, you looked as father used to look sometimes, when he felt out of tune.

And he always said there was nothing like a walk to put him back again.

I--I was feeling a little out of tune myself to-day, and I thought, by the way you looked, that you were, too.

So I asked you to go to walk." "Humph! Well, I--That will do, boy.