He was a good farmer, was apt at carpenter work, and knew a good deal about masonry.

A few months ago, any one living in that region would have been likely to say, if the subject had been brought up, that without Ben Greenway Major Bonnet could not get along at all, not even for a day, for he depended upon him in so many ways.

And yet, now the master of the estate was about to depart, for nobody knew how long, and leave his faithful servant behind.
The reason he gave was, that Ben could not be spared from the farm; but people in general, and Ben in particular, thought this very poor reasoning.

Any sort of business which made it necessary for Major Bonnet to separate himself from Ben Greenway was a very poor business, and should not be entered upon.
The deck of the Sarah Williams presented a lively scene as Kate stood upon the little quarter-deck and gazed forward.

The sailors were walking about and sitting about, smoking, talking, or coiling things away.