"You live over yonder at the white house with the lady who is ill ?" I nodded.
"The widow lady ?" "I live with mamma," I said shortly.
"Been very ill, hasn't she ?" "Yes, sir." "Ah! bad thing illness, I suppose.

Never was ill, only when the wagon went over my leg." "Yes, sir, she has been very bad." I was fidgeting to go, but he took hold of one of the ends of my little check silk tie, and kept fiddling it about between his finger and thumb.
"What's the matter ?" "Dr Morrison told Mrs Beeton, our landlady, that it was decline, sir." "And then Mrs Beeton told you ?" "No, sir, I heard the doctor tell her." "And then you went and frightened the poor thing and made her worse by telling her ?" "No, I did not, sir," I said warmly.
"Why not ?" "Because I thought it might make her worse." "Humph! Hah! Poor dear lady!" he said more softly.

"Looked too ill to come to church last Sunday, boy.

Flowers and fruit for her ?" I nodded.
"She send you to buy 'em ?" I shook my head, for I was so hurt by his abrupt way, his sharp cross-examination, and the thoughts of my mother's illness, that I could not speak.
"Who sent you then--Mrs Beeton ?" "No, sir." "Who did ?" "Nobody, sir.

I thought she would like some, and I came." "For a surprise, eh ?" Yes, sir.
"Own money ?" I stared at him hard.
"I said, Own money?
the sixpence?
Where did you get it ?" "I have sixpence a week allowed me to spend." "Hah! to be sure," he said, still holding on by my tie, and staring at me as he fumbled with one hand in his trousers pocket.