In England, especially in the provinces, some men of affairs cultivate these minor defects, deeming them tokens of bluff honesty, the hall-marks of the self-made; and David Verity thought, perhaps, that his pretty, well-spoken niece might be trusted to maintain the social level of his household without any special effort on his part.
Shocked, almost, at the disloyalty of her thoughts, Iris tried to close the rift that had opened so unexpectedly.
"It was stupid of me to take you seriously," she said.

"You cannot really mean that Mr.Bulmer wishes to marry me ?" Verity screwed up his features into an amiable grin.

He pressed the tips of his fingers together until the joints bent backward.

When he spoke, the cigar waggled with each syllable.
"I meant it right enough, my lass," he said.
"But, uncle dear----" "Stop a bit.

Listen to me first, an' say your say when I've finished.
Like everybody else, you think I'm a rich man.