He grew impatient if the paper was not forthcoming, and would set off himself to go for it, sometimes meeting the penitent breathless Ellinor in the long lane which led from Hamley to Mr.Wilkins's house.

At first he used to receive her eager "Oh! I am so sorry, Mr.Corbet, but papa has only just done with it," rather gruffly.
After a time he had the grace to tell her it did not signify; and by-and- by he would turn back with her to give her some advice about her garden, or her plants--for his mother and sisters were first-rate practical gardeners, and he himself was, as he expressed it, "a capital consulting physician for a sickly plant." All this time his voice, his step, never raised the child's colour one shade the higher, never made her heart beat the least quicker, as the slightest sign of her father's approach was wont to do.

She learnt to rely on Mr.Corbet for advice, for a little occasional sympathy, and for much condescending attention.

He also gave her more fault-finding than all the rest of the world put together; and, curiously enough, she was grateful to him for it, for she really was humble and wished to improve.
He liked the attitude of superiority which this implied and exercised right gave him.

They were very good friends at present.