The man looked determined and, in a way, ascetic; he could deny himself and concentrate.

Knowledge was not worth as much as character.

But she was content to let Miss Jardine lead the talk.
"One understands," said the latter, "that farming's laborious and not very profitable work." "It's always laborious," Festing agreed.

"It may be profitable; that depends.

You see----" He went on, using plain words but with some force of imagination, to picture the wheat-grower's hopes and struggles; but he did more, for as he talked Helen was conscious of the romance that underlay the patient effort.