How much older one grew sometimes in a short time! Mr.Bill Hen used to look so old, so wise, and now he seemed no more than another boy, and perhaps rather a foolish boy.

But seeing the Skipper made a great difference in a person's life.
Presently the door at the foot of the stairs opened, and John heard his name called; he hastened down, and found Mr.Scraper sitting up in bed, looking pale and savage, but in full possession of his faculties.

The doctor was there, a burly, kind-eyed man, and Mr.Bill Hen was there, and the Skipper; and when little John entered, they all looked at him, and no one said anything for a moment.
At length the doctor broke the silence.
"I understand, sir," he said, addressing the Skipper, "that you have a paper, a will or the like, substantiating your claims ?" "I have!" the Skipper replied.

"The letter received by my mother, shortly before her death, was dictated by my grandfather, and told that, hearing for many years nothing from his son, this child's grandfather, he had made a will in her favour.

This, being timorous, he had not dared to show to anyone, neither to send her a copy, but he bade her send a messenger to make search in a certain cupboard of this house, on a certain shelf, where would be found this paper.