She flushed and the corners of her mouth shook and a mist seemed to sweep over her eyes.
"Eh! dear lad!" she broke out tremulously.

"Eh! dear lad!" as if she had not known she were going to say it.

She did not say, "Mester Colin," but just "dear lad" quite suddenly.

She might have said it to Dickon in the same way if she had seen something in his face which touched her.

Colin liked it.
"Are you surprised because I am so well ?" he asked.