The frock coat went badly with the damaged tan boots and the moth-eaten rag cap Nicholas was wearing.
Mr.Crips was making back-door call, and telling housewives what the doctors at the hospital had said about his peculiar ailment which, it appears, was an interesting heart weakness.
"Above all, I must be careful never to over-exert myself, madam--those are the doctor's orders," said Nickie, in his sad, calm way.

"The smallest excitement, the slightest strain, and my life goes out like that." Nickie puffed an imaginary candle with dramatic significance.
This was the preliminary to a mild appeal for creature and medical comforts, and it had two objects--to open the soul to compassion, and bar all considerations of manual labour.
Our hero's manner with women was a gentle manly deference; his begging showed no trace of servility, but he was always polite.

He accepted failure with good grace, and did not resent scorn, abuse, or even violence from intended victims.

He was rarely combative.

Fighting was not his special gift; he met misfortune with patient passivity Resistance he found a mistake.