not about John.

I had thought of something--something I had long desired, but which
seemed then all but an impossibility. Even now it was with some
doubt and hesitation that I made the suggestion that he should spend
every Sunday at our house.

"Nonsense!--thee know'st nought of Norton Bury lads. He would not
care. He had rather lounge about all First-day at street corners
with his acquaintance."

"John has none, father. He knows nobody--cares for nobody--but me.
Do let him come."

"We'll see about it."

My father never broke or retracted his word. So after that John
Halifax came to us every Sunday; and for one day of the week, at
least, was received in his master's household as our equal and my
friend.



CHAPTER V

Summers and winters slipped by lazily enough, as the years seemed
always to crawl round at Norton Bury. How things went in the outside
world I little knew or cared. My father lived his life, mechanical
and steady as clock-work, and we two, John Halifax and Phineas
Fletcher, lived our lives--the one so active and busy, the other so