'I have no more readiness than old John himself.

Why didn't I say firmly, "You have no right to such secrets, and I demand of you to tell me what this means," instead of standing gaping at her, like an old moon-calf as I am! But there's my weakness.

I can be obstinate enough with men if need be, but women may twist me round their fingers at their pleasure.' He took his wig off outright as he made this reflection, and, warming his handkerchief at the fire began to rub and polish his bald head with it, until it glistened again.
'And yet,' said the locksmith, softening under this soothing process, and stopping to smile, 'it MAY be nothing.

Any drunken brawler trying to make his way into the house, would have alarmed a quiet soul like her.
But then'-- and here was the vexation--'how came it to be that man; how comes he to have this influence over her; how came she to favour his getting away from me; and, more than all, how came she not to say it was a sudden fright, and nothing more?
It's a sad thing to have, in one minute, reason to mistrust a person I have known so long, and an old sweetheart into the bargain; but what else can I do, with all this upon my mind!--Is that Barnaby outside there ?' 'Ay!' he cried, looking in and nodding.

'Sure enough it's Barnaby--how did you guess ?' 'By your shadow,' said the locksmith.
'Oho!' cried Barnaby, glancing over his shoulder, 'He's a merry fellow, that shadow, and keeps close to me, though I AM silly.