In those days my middle age would be beginning now, and in a few years I should be pinched, thin, and haggard, beset with troubles and miseries, so that no one could have guessed that I was once a beautiful girl.
"Is this what you have had in your mind, guest ?" said she, the tears in her eyes at thought of the past miseries of people like herself.
"Yes," said I, much moved; "that and more.

Often--in my country I have seen that wretched change you have spoken of, from the fresh handsome country lass to the poor draggle-tailed country woman." The old man sat silent for a little, but presently recovered himself and took comfort in his old phrase of "Well, you like it so, do you ?" "Yes," said Ellen, "I love life better than death." "O, you do, do you ?" said he.

"Well, for my part I like reading a good old book with plenty of fun in it, like Thackeray's 'Vanity Fair.' Why don't you write books like that now?
Ask that question of your Bloomsbury sage." Seeing Dick's cheeks reddening a little at this sally, and noting that silence followed, I thought I had better do something.

So I said: "I am only the guest, friends; but I know you want to show me your river at its best, so don't you think we had better be moving presently, as it is certainly going to be a hot day ?".