He looked pale, and a little worn, as if with perplexing thought and anxiety of mind.

He sat a long time, looking at the floor, and at intervals muttering to himself and nodding his head acquiescingly or shaking it in mild protest.

He was lost in his thought, or in his memories.

We continued our talk with the planters, branching from subject to subject.

But at last the word "circumstance," casually dropped, in the course of conversation, attracted his attention and brought an eager look into his countenance.