Her countrymen commonly held their pipes between their thumb and finger.

To Zilda, Gilby's method appeared astonishingly elegant, but she hardly seemed to observe it.
'You have a flat country here,' said he, looking round at the dry summer fields; 'rather dull, isn't it ?' 'Oui, monsieur.' 'Don't you speak English ?' 'Yes, sir,' said Zilda.
This was not very interesting for Gilby.

He had about him a good deal of the modern restlessness that cannot endure one hour without work or amusement.

He made further efforts to make up to the men; he asked them questions with patronising kindness, he gave them scraps of information upon all subjects of temporary interest, with a funny little air of pompous importance.

When by mere force of habit they grew more familiar with him, he would strut up and engage them in long conversations, listen to all they said with consummate good nature, giving his opinion in return.