It certainly seemed to him that Barney's back was bent.

He got within hailing distance and called out.
"Hallo!" cried Thomas Payne.
Barney turned around, and it seemed as if he turned with the feeble, crooked motion of the other man.

He saw Thomas Payne, and his face was ghastly white, but he stood still and waited.
"How are you ?" Thomas said, gruffly, as he came up.
"How are you, Thomas ?" returned Barney.

He looked at Thomas with a dogged expectancy.

He thought he was going to tell him that he was to marry Charlotte.
But Thomas was surveying him still in that strange bewilderment.
"Look here, Barney," said he, bluntly, "have you been sick?
I haven't heard of it." "No, I haven't," replied Barney, wonderingly.
Thomas's eyes were fixed upon his back.