One day, however, she said, "What is it you take to in Merthyr Powys ?" and this brought on plain speaking.
Emilia could give no reason; and it is a peculiarity of people who ask such questions that they think a want of directness in the answer suspicious.
Lady Charlotte said gravely, "Come, come!" "What do you mean ?" asked Emilia.

"I like so many things in him." "You don't like one thing chiefly ?" "I like--what do I like ?--his kindness." "His kindness!" This was the sort of reply to make the lady implacable.
She seldom read others shrewdly, and could not know, that near her, Emilia thought of Wilfrid in a way that made the vault of her brain seem to echo with jarred chords.

"His kindness! What a picture is the 'grateful girl!' I have seen rows of white-capped charity children giving a bob and a sniffle as the parson went down the ranks promising buns.

Well! his kindness! You are right in appreciating as much as you can see.

I'll tell you why I like him;--because he is a gentleman.