He lifted his hat to my mother, with a glance of sorrow, but never a word; and to me he said, 'Open the gate, Cousin John, if you please.

You have beaten her so, that she cannot leap it, poor thing.' But before he was truly gone out of our yard, my mother came softly after him, with her afternoon apron across her eyes, and one hand ready to offer him.

Nevertheless, he made as if he had not seen her, though he let his horse go slowly.
'Stop, Cousin Tom,' my mother said, 'a word with you, before you go.' 'Why, bless my heart!' Tom Faggus cried, with the form of his countenance so changed, that I verily thought another man must have leaped into his clothes--'do I see my Cousin Sarah?
I thought every one was ashamed of me, and afraid to offer me shelter, since I lost my best cousin, John Ridd.

'Come here,' he used to say, 'Tom, come here, when you are worried, and my wife shall take good care of you.' 'Yes, dear John,' I used to answer, 'I know she promised my mother so; but people have taken to think against me, and so might Cousin Sarah.' Ah, he was a man, a man! If you only heard how he answered me.

But let that go, I am nothing now, since the day I lost Cousin Ridd.' And with that he began to push on again; but mother would not have it so.
'Oh, Tom, that was a loss indeed.