She had steeled herself against an Irish tongue.

He spoke little, appeared simple, professed no enthusiasm for the Laundry.

And he paid no compliments to Jane: of the two he was more interested by the elder lady, whose farm and dairy in Surrey he heard her tell of with a shining glance, observing that he liked thick cream: there was a touch of home in it.

The innocent sensuality in the candid avowal of his tastes inspired confidence.

Mrs.Lackstraw fished for some account of his home.
He was open to flow on the subject; he dashed a few sketches of mother and sisters, dowerless girls, fresh as trout in the stream, and of his own poor estate, and the peasantry, with whom he was on friendly terms.
He was an absentee for his education.