They had not the peculiar dull gleam that made Clara's so fascinating to him.
"And you've been going with Miriam Leivers ?" the mother asked him.
"Well--" he answered.
"Yes, she's a nice girl," she continued.

"She's very nice, but she's a bit too much above this world to suit my fancy." "She is a bit like that," he agreed.
"She'll never be satisfied till she's got wings and can fly over everybody's head, she won't," she said.
Clara broke in, and he told her his message.

She spoke humbly to him.

He had surprised her in her drudgery.

To have her humble made him feel as if he were lifting his head in expectation.
"Do you like jennying ?" he asked.
"What can a woman do!" she replied bitterly.
"Is it sweated ?" "More or less.