He had been out before in other directions, but not in that of Clay Lane.

He had not yet recovered his full strength; he looked ill and emaciated.

Had he been strong, as he used to be, he would not have found himself nearly losing his equilibrium at being run violently against by a woman, who turned swiftly out of her own door.
"Take care, Mrs.Grind! Is your house on fire ?" "It's begging a thousand pardons, sir! I hadn't no idea you was there," returned Mrs.Grind, in lamentable confusion, when she saw whom she had all but knocked down.

"Grind, he catches sight o' one o' the brick men going by, and he tells me to run and fetch him in; but I had got my hands in the soap-suds, and couldn't take 'em convenient out of it at the minute, and I was hasting lest he'd gone too far to be caught up.

He have now." "Is Grind better ?" "He ain't no worse, sir.