He would notice her new blouse.
He, being in a hard, ironical mood, was entertaining the family to a description of a service given in the Primitive Methodist Chapel, conducted by one of the well-known preachers of the sect.

He sat at the head of the table, his mobile face, with the eyes that could be so beautiful, shining with tenderness or dancing with laughter, now taking on one expression and then another, in imitation of various people he was mocking.

His mockery always hurt her; it was too near the reality.
He was too clever and cruel.

She felt that when his eyes were like this, hard with mocking hate, he would spare neither himself nor anybody else.
But Mrs.Leivers was wiping her eyes with laughter, and Mr.Leivers, just awake from his Sunday nap, was rubbing his head in amusement.
The three brothers sat with ruffled, sleepy appearance in their shirt-sleeves, giving a guffaw from time to time.

The whole family loved a "take-off" more than anything.
He took no notice of Miriam.