He was in a mood of jollity, and watched Elfride down the hill with a smile.
'You little flyaway! you look wild enough now,' he said, and turned to Stephen.

'But she's not a wild child at all, Mr.Smith.As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here.' 'I think Miss Swancourt very clever,' Stephen observed.
'Yes, she is; certainly, she is,' said papa, turning his voice as much as possible to the neutral tone of disinterested criticism.

'Now, Smith, I'll tell you something; but she mustn't know it for the world--not for the world, mind, for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret.

Why, SHE WRITES MY SERMONS FOR ME OFTEN, and a very good job she makes of them!' 'She can do anything.' 'She can do that.

The little rascal has the very trick of the trade.
But, mind you, Smith, not a word about it to her, not a single word!' 'Not a word,' said Smith.
'Look there,' said Mr.Swancourt.