Still more delightful were the moments when they reached the stream where the rows ended, and the
old man rubbed his scythe with the wet, thick grass, rinsed its blade in the fresh water of the stream, ladled out a little in a tin dipper, and offered Levin a drink.
The governor lowered the staff, and as he did so the
old man who had the stick handed it to the other
old man to hold for him while he swore, as if he found it in his way; and then laid his hand on the cross of the staff, saying that it was true the ten crowns that were demanded of him had been lent him; but that he had with his own hand given them back into the hand of the other, and that he, not recollecting it, was always asking for them.
Why, bless thee, child,' said the
old man, patting her on the head,
Still the
old man answered as though Kim were an equal.
Why quarrel with an
old man concerning his thoughts?
And then the little boy came into the room where the projecting windows were, and where the
old man sat.
Then the
old man went away too, returned to the light of day, and went home.
The
old man found me a little confused, and under some concern when he named a Dutch ship, and said to me, "Sir, you need be under no apprehensions of the Dutch; I suppose they are not now at war with your nation?
Yes, my dear boy," replied the
old man, "it is very fortunate.
There were strange faces in almost every house; in some he recognised the burly form of some old schoolfellow--a boy when he last saw him--surrounded by a troop of merry children; in others he saw, seated in an easy-chair at a cottage door, a feeble and infirm
old man, whom he only remembered as a hale and hearty labourer; but they had all forgotten him, and he passed on unknown.
What the
old man visioned in the silence that fell, Daughtry did not try to guess.
Then the
old man he signed a pledge -- made his mark.
When at some distance from the multitude, the
old man turned slowly round, displaying a face of antique majesty, rendered doubly venerable by the hoary beard that descended on his breast.
His sons were seated round their father in the outer courtyard, and their raiment was wet with tears: the
old man sat in the midst of them with his mantle wrapped close about his body, and his head and neck all covered with the filth which he had clutched as he lay grovelling in the mire.
Cropole was feeding their gossip with his own personal remarks, without observing that an
old man on foot, but leading a small Irish horse by the bridle, was endeavoring to penetrate the crowd of men and women which blocked up the entrance to the Medici.
