They will think you have seen a ghost." "Would to God I had--rather than have seen you," he murmured to himself, and I heard him.
The carriage drew up beside us, and Mr.Hill jumped out.

He was an odd-looking man, with a bald, benevolent forehead, a pair of honest brown eyes, which glared about with a sort of fierce good-humour, white hair, and white thick-set whiskers.

Mrs.Hill sat within the carriage, a mild-looking fat little lady, with rosy cheeks and a piping voice, holding hugged in her arms something which looked like a bundle of fleecy wool, but which I afterwards knew to be a favourite dog.
"Eh, Hollingford, my lad, I am glad to see you.

How are you?
and your good mother ?" said the old gentleman, grasping John's hand, and glaring kindly in his face.
"Well, Mr.Hill; well, thank you," answered John, but he kept his stern, absent demeanour, as if he could not, or would not, shake off the spell that had come over him, which made him look like a cold, unfaithful, unlifelike copy of himself.
The sharp trebles of the ladies' voices rang about my ears, but it was only by an effort that I could take in the meaning of what they said, so observant was I of John's severe glance which followed every movement of Rachel, as she stood chatting to me with a merriment which I could not but think was nervous and assumed.
Mr.Hill was rallying John upon his gravity, kindly and delicately, even in the midst of the natural noisy bluster of his manner.

And somehow I divined readily, even out of the distraction of wonder that had come upon me, that the fine old gentleman, remembering certain thorns in John's way, was touched at seeing him proud and reserved in the presence of his natural equals, who had not sunk in the world's favour, and who had got no stain upon their name.
"Will you come and dine with us this evening at seven ?" said Mr.Hill.
"You and I must have much to talk about.