"So I hope you're satisfied, miss." Hilda was aware of self-consciousness.
"Yes, you may well colour up!" Mrs.Lessways pursued, genial but malicious.

"You're as pleased as Punch, and you're saying to yourself you've made your old mother give way to ye again! And so you needn't tell me!" "I thought," said Hilda, with all possible prim worldliness,--"I thought I heard him saying something about buying the property ?" Mrs.Lessways laughed, sceptically, confidently, as one who could not be deceived.

"Pooh!" she said.

"That was only a try-on.

That was only so that he could begin his palaver! Don't tell me! I may be a simpleton, but I'm not such a simpleton as he thinks for, nor as some other folks think for, either!" (At this point Hilda had to admit that in truth her mother was not completely a simpleton.