He said little at first, and when addressed he turned his face slowly round to him who spoke with an air of mingled abstraction and self-satisfaction, through which a feeble smile of condescension struggled and seemed to say in a mild voice, "Did you speak ?" Matthew sat at the foot of the table, and down each side were seated the dalesmen, to the number of twenty-four.

There were Thomas Fell and Adam Rutledge, Job Leathes and Luke Cockrigg, John Jackson of Armboth, and little Reuben Thwaite.
His reverence cut up the ham into slices as formal as his creed, while old Matthew poured out the contents of two huge black jacks.

Robbie Anderson carried the plates to and fro; Mrs.Branthwaite and Liza served out the barley and oaten bread.
The breakfast was hardly more than begun when the kitchen door was partially opened, and the big head of a little man became visible on the inner side of it, the body and legs of the new-comer not having yet arrived in the apartment.
"Am I late ?" the head said in a hoarse whisper from its place low down on the door-jamb.

It was Monsey Laman, red and puffing after a sharp run.
"It's the laal Frenchman.

Come thy ways in," said Matthew.