"Well, Dick, how are you?" asked his father, holding him off at arm's length, to get a better view. "My, but you've grown, though you're a little pale."
"Yes, there wasn't much chance to tan up in the winter. But I'm glad to get home. How's everybody? You're looking well yourself, dad. Oh, Uncle Ezra," spoke Dick quickly, as he thought of something, "how's Aunt Samanthy?"
"Oh, she ain't as well as she might be. She has something the matter with her stomach, and the medicine she has to take is very expensive—very! Besides, she's had the doctor real frequent of late, and that runs up an expense; not that I mind it so much, but it seems doctors charge more than they used to. No, your Aunt Samanthy ain't as well as she might be."
"I'm sorry to hear that," murmured Dick, as sympathetically as he could.
"Everything go off well at school?" asked Mr. Hamilton.
"Yes, dad; and my company took first prize."
"Good! Glad to hear it."
"I treated the boys to a good feed on the strength of it, too, last night."
"That's right."