I had yet to learn the slow martyrdom the poor soul had endured during the last few months in that squalid, miserable household.

To her, cleanliness was next to godliness.
She had brought up a large family well and thriftily, and now in her old age and helplessness her life had no comfort in it.

I was rather surprised to see Mr.Hamilton shake the wrinkled hand heartily.
'Well, Elspeth, what news of your son?
Is he likely to come home soon ?' 'Nay, doctor,' in a faint old treble: 'Andrew cannot leave his job for two or three months to come.

He is terrible down-hearted about poor Mary.
Ay, she has been a good wife to him and the bairns; but look at her now! Poor thing! Poor thing!' 'We must all dree our weird.

You are a canny Scotch-woman, and know what that means.