Fox was as rubicund as ever, but his features were noticeably peaked and there were heavy lines under his eyes--lines cast into deep shadow by the light by which he was reading.

I entered unannounced, and was greeted by an indifferent upward glance that changed into one of something like pleasure as he made out my features in the dim light.
"Hullo, you old country hawbuck," he said, with spasmodic jocularity; "I'm uncommon glad to see you." He came to a jerky close, with an indrawing of his breath.

"I'm about done," he went on.

"Same old thing--sciatica.

Took me just after I got here this afternoon; sent out one of the messengers to buy me a sofa, and here I've been ever since.
Well, and what's brought you up--don't answer, I know all about it.