He was a light-hearted man, full of hope and optimism.
"Am I disturbing your studies ?" he asked, with his easy laugh, as he came rather suddenly on Miriam and little Sep in the turf-shelter at the corner of the rectory garden.

"You must say so if I am." They had, indeed, their books, and the boy's face wore that abstracted look which comes from a very earnest desire not to see the many interesting things on earth and sea, which always force themselves upon the attention of the young at the wrong time.

Colville had already secured Sep's friendship by the display of a frank ignorance of natural history only equalled by his desire to be taught.
"We're doing history," replied Sep, frankly, jumping up and shaking hands.
"Ah, yes.

William the Conqueror, ten hundred and sixty-six, and all the rest of it.

I know.