Mr.Hood now and then put a question, as in duty bound to do; Emily restricted her speech to the absolutely necessary replies.
Dagworthy conducted them into the house.

It appeared to be furnished in a solid, old-fashioned way, and the ornaments, though few, were such as might better have been dispensed with.

Old Dagworthy had come to live here some five-and-twenty years previously, having before that occupied a small house in conjunction with his mill.

He had been one of the 'worthies' of Dunfield, and in his time did a good deal of useful work for the town.

Personally, he was anything but amiable, being devoid of education and refinement, and priding himself on his spirit of independence, which exhibited itself in mere boorishness.