He was always known as Old Tom, and nobody ever saw him laugh.

He was awfully earnest in all he did, and strict, I can tell you, about everything.

There was no humbugging him.
The fellows liked him because he was really so earnest about everything, and always just and fair.

But he didn't look a bit like a soldier except as to his stiffness, and when the fellows who had been at Lexington heard that he was in command here they did not think he would have made much hand at it; but I tell you, he did.

You never saw such a fellow to work.
"Everything had to be done, you know.