Somehow, the scorn and the mistrust would not hold out in Totty's presence.

He found himself taking more pains to be polite to her than to any other person.

When she had had Nelly in her room, and brought the child to him on his coming home, he invented excuses to get her to talk for a few moments.

Unfortunately, Totty appeared little disposed to talk.
Luke Ackroyd was not infrequently in Bunce's room.

These two discussed religion and politics together, and their remarks on these subjects lacked neither vigour nor perspicuity.