That Odysseus of commerce was always referred to as being concerned in enterprises of mysterious importance and magnitude; she would hint that he had political missions, naturally not to be spoken of in plain terms.

Mrs.Lessingham often wondered with a smile what the truth really was; she saw no reason for making conjectures of a disagreeable kind, but it was pretty clear to her that selfishness, idleness, and vanity were at the root of Mrs.Denyer's character, and in a measure explained the position of the family.
During the last few days, Barbara had exhibited a revival of interest in the "place in Lincolnshire." Her experiments proved that it needed but a moderate ingenuity to make Mr.Musselwhite's favourite topic practically inexhaustible.

The "place" itself having been sufficiently described, it was natural to inquire what other "places" were its neighbours, what were the characteristics of the nearest town, how long it took to drive from the "place" to the town, from the "place" to such another "place," and so on.

Mr.Musselwhite was undisguisedly grateful for every remark or question that kept him talking at his ease.

It was always his dread lest a subject should be broached on which he could say nothing whatever--there were so many such!--and as often as Barbara broke a silence without realizing his fear, he glanced at her with the gentlest and most amiable smile.