His address could not be called disrespectful, but the smile which accompanied it expressed a sort of good-natured patronage, perhaps inevitable in such a man when speaking to his clerk's daughter.

The presence of the clerk himself very little concerned him.

He kept his eyes steadily on the girl's face, examining her with complete frankness.

His utterance was that of an educated man, but it had something of the Yorkshire accent, a broadness which would have distressed the ear in a drawing-room.
Emily replied that she had been in London; it did not seem necessary to enter into details.
'Pleasant afternoon, isn't it?
Makes one want to get away to the moors.
I suppose you will be off somewhere soon with your family, Mr.Hood ?' He would not have employed the formal prefix to his clerk's name but for Emily's presence; the father knew that, and felt grateful.
'Not this year, I think, sir,' he replied, with perfect cheerfulness.
Of the three dogs that accompanied Dagworthy, one was a handsome collie.
This animal came snuffing at Emily's hand, and involuntarily, glad perhaps to have a pretence for averting her face, she caressed the silky ears.
'Fine head, isn't it, Miss Hood ?' said Dagworthy at once, causing her to remove her hand quickly.

'Ay, but I've a finer collie than that.