Is it finished, uncle of my heart?
Is it finished, venerable iniquity?
Can you part with the child, beloved, even as your old father was beloved, and like him caressed and tenderly entreated?
Answer, thou!" But before Mr.Scraper could speak, little John stepped forward, very pale, but clear in his mind.
"If you please," he said, "I should like to speak.

If you please, he (indicating the Skipper,) is so kind, and--and--he knows what I--he knows things I have thought about, but he does not know all.

Cousin Scraper, you may be sick now, perhaps a long time, and perhaps you have gone upon your bed to die, like that king in the Bible who had figs put on; only he got well.
"And I want to stay and take care of you, and--and I will do as well as I know how, and I think I can work more than I used to, because I know more, these last days, than I did, and--and--I think that is all.

But if you don't mind--if you would try to like me a little, I think we should get on better; and if dried figs would do, we might try those, you know." Here he turned to the doctor, with a face of such clear brightness that the good man choked, and coughed, and finally went and looked out of the window, wondering whether he was laughing or crying.
Then John came forward, and held out both hands to the old man with an appealing gesture.
"Will you try to like me a little ?" he said; and for the first time his voice quivered.
"For now my only friend is going away, and I am sending him, and I shall never see him again." Mr.Endymion Scraper was a man of few ideas; and only one was in his mind at this moment.

Gathering himself up in the bed, he pushed the boy away from him with all his feeble strength.
"Go 'way!" he said.