"I've been sick."
"An' your hair is gray."
"It's the prison life done it."
"You've been through a good deal, I take it," in a tone of compassion.
"I don't want to think o' it any more if I can help it!" Ephraim exclaimed. "They didn't treat me so bad, but—oh, I thought it would take the soul out o' me!"
Davis shook his head sympathetically.
Ephraim's face sank on his breast for a moment. There were some questions he longed, yet dreaded, to ask. At last he plucked up courage.
"How—how is mother?"
"Purty well."
"'Lishy Cole is married, is he?"