He heard only that 'Lias was 'bad,' and mostly in his bed, and feeling a little guilty, he hardly knew why, the lad kept away from his old friend.
Summer and the early autumn passed away.

October brought a spell of wintry weather; and one day, as he was bringing the sheep home, he met old Margaret, 'Lias's wife.

She stopped and accosted him.
'Why doan't yo coom and see 'Lias sometimes, Davy, my lad?
Yo might leeten him up a bit, an' he wants it, t' Lord knows.

He's been fearfu' bad in his sperrits this summer.' The lad stammered out some sheepish excuses, and soon made his way over to Frimley Moor.

But the visits were not so much pleasure as usual.