Nobody could help being kind to Lois, even if he tried.

Joel brought the coffee with more readiness than he would have waited on Mrs.Howth.
"Barney will be jealous," he said, patting the bare ribs of the old donkey, and glancing wistfully at his mistress.
"Give him his supper, surely," she said, taking the hint.
It was a real treat to see how Lois enjoyed her supper, sipping and tasting the warm coffee, her face in a glow, like an epicure over some rare Falernian.

You would be sure, from just that little thing, that no sparkle of warmth or pleasure in the world slipped by her which she did not catch and enjoy and be thankful for to the uttermost.

You would think, perhaps, pitifully, that not much pleasure or warmth would ever go down so low, within her reach.

Now that she stood on the ground, she scarcely came up to the level of the wheel; some deformity of her legs made her walk with a curious rolling jerk, very comical to see.