Does it always rain at Norton Bury ?" "For shame, John!" and I pointed to the bluest of autumn skies, though in the distance an afternoon mist was slowly creeping on.
"All very fine now, but there's a fog coming over Severn; and it is sure to rain at nightfall.

I shall not get my nice little bit of October evening." "You must spend it within doors then." John shook his head.

"You ought; it must be dreadfully cold on this bark-heap after sunset." "Rather, sometimes.

Are you cold now?
Shall I fetch--but I haven't anything fit to wrap you in, except this rug." He muffled it closer round me; infinitely light and tender was his rough-looking boy's hand.
"I never saw anybody so thin as you; thinner much since I saw you.

Have you been very, very ill, Phineas?
What ailed you ?" His anxiety was so earnest, that I explained to him what I may as well explain here, and dismiss, once for all; the useless topic, that from my birth I had been puny and diseased; that my life had been a succession of sicknesses, and that I could hope for little else until the end.
"But don't think I mind it; John;" for I was grieved to see his shocked and troubled look.