With Clara he took on a smart, worldly, mocking tone very antagonistic to Miriam.

It did not matter what went before.

She might be intimate and sad with him.

Then as soon as Clara appeared, it all vanished, and he played to the newcomer.
Miriam had one beautiful evening with him in the hay.

He had been on the horse-rake, and having finished, came to help her to put the hay in cocks.