Howsomever, I hope for the best now." Marie said nothing, merely contenting herself with attending to his wants, which were numerous and frequent.
"That God-forsaken place, Msala," said Joseph presently, "has been rather crumpled up by the enemy." "They have destroyed it--yes ?" "That is so.

You're right, they 'ave destroyed it." Marie gave a quick little sigh--one of those sighs which the worldly-wise recognise at once.
"You don't seem over-pleased," said Joseph.
"I was very happy there," she answered.
Joseph leant back in his chair, fingering reflectively his beer-glass.
"I'm afraid, mistress," he said half-shyly, "that your life can't have been a very happy one.

There's some folk that is like that--through no fault of their own, too, so far as our mortal vision, so to speak, can reckon it up." "I have my troubles, like other people," she answered softly.
Joseph inclined his head to one side and collected his breadcrumbs thoughtfully.
"Always seems to me," he said, "that your married life can't have been so happy-like as--well, as one might say, you deserved, missis.

But then you've got them clever little kids.

I DO like them little kids wonderful.