Never in his memory had his dress been so immaculate.

The queer old fellow seemed to appreciate this as he raised his smiling face from the stooped shoulders and poised it on one side like a sparrow.
"Welcome home, sir," he said to Uncle John.

"I'm Hucks, sir; Thomas Hucks," and without more words he proceeded to remove the satchels from the wagon.
"Ah, yes," returned Mr.Merrick, cheered by the welcome and the smile of the old man.

"I'd forgotten about you, but I'm glad you're here." "And that is my wife Nora, on the porch.

She's the housekeeper, sir." And then, lowering his voice so that only the girls and Uncle John could hear, he added simply: "She's blind." Patsy walked straight up to the eager, pathetic figure of the woman and took her hand in a warm clasp.
"I'm Patricia, Nora," she said, "and I'm sure we shall be friends." Beth followed her cousin's lead.
"And I am Beth, Nora.