In mental power I doubt whether he was superior to John Eames;--to John Eames, such as he might become when the period of his hobbledehoyhood should have altogether passed away.

But Crofts, compared with the other three, as they all were at present, was a man more to be trusted than any of them.

And there was, moreover, about him an occasional dash of humour, without which Mrs Dale would hardly have regarded him with that thorough liking which she had for him.

But it was a quiet humour, apt to show itself when he had but one friend with him, rather than in general society.

Crosbie, on the other hand, would be much more bright among a dozen, than he could with a single companion.