Perhaps you have heard of me from Miss Derrick ?' 'Yes, Mr.Cobb, your name has been mentioned,' Emmeline replied nervously.

'Will you sit down ?' 'Thank you, I will.' He twisted his hat about, and seemed to prepare with difficulty the next remark, which at length burst, rather than fell, from his lips.
'I wanted to see Miss Derrick.

I suppose she is still living with you?
They told me so.' A terrible man, thought Emmeline, when roused to anger; his words must descend like sledge-hammers.

And it would not take much to anger him.

For all that, he had by no means a truculent countenance.
He was trying to smile, and his features softened agreeably enough.
The more closely she observed him, the less grew Emmeline's wonder that Louise felt an interest in the man.
'Miss Derrick is likely to stay with us for some time, I believe.
She has only gone to town, to do some shopping.' 'I see.