John ordered two half-pints of ale--the club supplied refreshment for the body as well as for the mind--and presently he was more himself.
'How's your wife ?' inquired Joseph.

'Better, I hope ?' 'I wish I could say so,' answered the other, shaking his head.

'She hasn't been up since Thursday.

She's bad, poor woman! she's bad.' Joseph murmured his sympathy between two draughts of ale.
'Seen young Kirkwood lately ?' Hewett asked, averting his eyes and assuming a tone of half-absent indifference.
'He's gone away for his holiday; gone into Essex somewhere.

When was it he was speaking of you?
Why, one day last week, to be sure.' 'Speakin' about me, eh ?' said John, turning his glass round and round on the table.