My dear Doctor, it was his spirit, not his constitution, that he ventured on so boldly.

Annie, my dear, I am sure you must perfectly recollect that your cousin never was strong--not what can be called ROBUST, you know,' said Mrs.
Markleham, with emphasis, and looking round upon us generally, '-- from the time when my daughter and himself were children together, and walking about, arm-in-arm, the livelong day.' Annie, thus addressed, made no reply.
'Do I gather from what you say, ma'am, that Mr.Maldon is ill ?' asked Mr.Wickfield.
'Ill!' replied the Old Soldier.

'My dear sir, he's all sorts of things.' 'Except well ?' said Mr.Wickfield.
'Except well, indeed!' said the Old Soldier.

'He has had dreadful strokes of the sun, no doubt, and jungle fevers and agues, and every kind of thing you can mention.

As to his liver,' said the Old Soldier resignedly, 'that, of course, he gave up altogether, when he first went out!' 'Does he say all this ?' asked Mr.Wickfield.
'Say?
My dear sir,' returned Mrs.Markleham, shaking her head and her fan, 'you little know my poor Jack Maldon when you ask that question.
Say?
Not he.