"My Sophy, Mr.Holmes.

Good girl, Sophy is.

Bring her up to the mill sometimes," he said, apologetically, "on 'count of not leaving her alone.

She gets lonesome at th' house." Holmes glanced at Pike's felt hat lying on the table: there was a rusty strip of crape on it.
"Yes," said Pike, in a lower tone, "I'm father and mother, both, to Sophy now." "I had not heard," said Holmes, kindly.

"How about the boys, now ?" "Pete and John 's both gone West," the man said, his eyes kindling eagerly.