The change in him was remarkable; he looked old and careworn.

His manner was that of resigned hopelessness.
"We remained for a while without speaking, he twirling his hat as at our first interview, I making a show of arranging papers on my desk.

At length, feeling that anything would be more bearable than this silence, I turned to him.
"'Things have not been going well with you, I'm afraid, Josiah ?' I said.
"'No, sir,' he replied quietly; 'I can't say as they have, altogether.
That Hannah of yours has turned out a bit of a teaser.' "There was no touch of reproach in his tones.

He simply stated a melancholy fact.
"'But she is a good wife to you in other ways,' I urged.

'She has her faults, of course.