The old folk had the manners of princes.

They pressed food on me, and asked me no questions, till for very decency's sake I had to put up a story and give some account of myself.
I found they had a son in the Argylls and a young boy in the Navy.

But they seemed disinclined to talk of them or of the war.

By a mere accident I hit on the old man's absorbing interest.

He was passionate about the land.