"Your presence here will be almost as great a comfort, to me, as to the child.

I am a lonely man.

For years, I have cut myself loose from the world.

I have neither associates nor friends.

But now that this great load is off my mind, my first want is a friend; and who could be so great a friend, who could enter into my plans and hopes for the future so well, as yourself, who would have an interest in them equal to my own ?" The sergeant was much moved by the squire's earnestness.