"I never had that honour." "An excellent old woman, and knew your grandmother Stoddard well.

You see, Gruffen has been attending us for I don't know how many years; but upon my word--" and then the earl stopped himself.
"It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good," said Crofts, with a slight laugh.
"Perhaps it'll blow me some good, for Gruffen never did me any.

The fact is this; I'm very well, you know,--as strong as a horse." "You look pretty well." "No man could be better,--not of my age.

I'm sixty, you know." "You don't look as though you were ailing." "I'm always out in the open air, and that, I take it, is the best thing for a man." "There's nothing like plenty of exercise, certainly." "And I'm always taking exercise," said the earl.

"There isn't a man about the place works much harder than I do.