Quotation from: The Valley of the Moon

Written by: Jack London

CHAPTER X

Billy could never get over the shock, during that period, of
Saxon's appearance. Morning after morning, and evening after
evening when he came home from work, he would enter the room
where she lay and fight a royal battle to hide his feelings and
make a show of cheerfulness and geniality. She looked so small
lying there so small and shrunken and weary, and yet so
child-like in her smallness. Tenderly, as he sat beside her, he
would take up her pale hand and stroke the slim, transparent arm,
marveling at the smallness and delicacy of the bones.