It will be no harm at least to work here day by day, and pleasant thoughts will come of it, I am sure.' Her glowing cheek and moistened eye passed unnoticed by the sexton, who turned towards old David, and called him by his name.

It was plain that Becky Morgan's age still troubled him; though why, the child could scarcely understand.
The second or third repetition of his name attracted the old man's attention.

Pausing from his work, he leant on his spade, and put his hand to his dull ear.
'Did you call ?' he said.
'I have been thinking, Davy,' replied the sexton, 'that she,' he pointed to the grave, 'must have been a deal older than you or me.' 'Seventy-nine,' answered the old man with a shake of the head, 'I tell you that I saw it.' 'Saw it ?' replied the sexton; 'aye, but, Davy, women don't always tell the truth about their age.' 'That's true indeed,' said the other old man, with a sudden sparkle in his eye.

'She might have been older.' 'I'm sure she must have been.

Why, only think how old she looked.