"But I don't mind much; I'm sure to find a corner in the general business ready for me somewhere when I'm not wanted here any more." "Have you been drinking the water lately ?" asked Willie.
"No.

I was very busy last week, and hadn't time, and it was rather cold for me to go out.

But for that matter the wind blew in through door and window so dreadfully--and it's but a clay floor, and firing is dear--that I caught a cold, and a cold is the worst thing for me--that is for this poor rickety body of mine.

And this cold is a bad one." Here a great fit of coughing came on, accompanied by symptoms that Willie saw were dangerous, and he went home at once to get him some medicine.
On the way back a thought struck him, about which, however, he would say nothing to Hector until he should have talked to his father and mother about it, which he did that same evening at supper.
"I'll tell you what, Hector," he said, when he went to see him the next day--"you must come and occupy my room in the ruins.

Since grannie went home I don't want it, and it's a pity to have it lying idle.