He is a very old gentleman with a long white beard, and very, very clever.

His room is full of Greek books and we had a long talk, and he was very kind and said he would teach me to read them." This seemed to Halcyone to be sufficient in the way of credentials for anyone.
"I have heard from Hester," Miss Roberta interposed timidly, "that the orchard house has been bought by an Oxford professor--it sounds most respectable, does it not, sister ?" Miss La Sarthe looked stern: "More than thirty-five years ago, Roberta, I told you I disapproved of Hester's chattering.

I cannot conceive personally, how you can converse with servants as you do.

Hester would not have dared to gossip to me!" Poor Miss Roberta looked crushed.

She had often been chided on this point before.
Halcyone would like to have reminded her elder aunt that William, who was equally a servant, had announced some such news to her that afternoon; but she remained silent.