What is it ?" Ralph had dreaded this question.

He did not answer it, but asked Shocky to change his position a little, and then he quickened the pace of the horse.

But Shocky was a poet, and a poet understands silence more quickly than he does speech.

The little fellow shivered as the truth came to him.
"Is that the poor-house ?" he said, catching his breath.

"Is my mother in that place?
_Won't_ you take me in there, so as I can just kiss her once?
'Cause she can't see much, you know.