"Oh, do 'ee try to eat a little bit." Con's feelings towards his cousin
had always been for her an open book. After Sabina's accident, the
miller had ceased coming to Wastralls; and Mrs. Tom had understood that
this was not due to indifference but oversensitiveness. He could not
endure to see the woman, whose strength and vitality he had all his life
admired, reduced to helplessness.
"'Tis a long time," said Mrs. Tom sadly, "since you 'ad anything ter eat
in this 'ouse."