Now he had come home, in a sense not much changed, and Peter was satisfied.

Kit and he seldom jarred, and the dalesfolk, who did not know how like they were under the surface, sometimes thought it strange.
Four or five of their neighbors sat in the kitchen, for the most part smoking quietly, but now and then grumbling about the recent heavy rain.
This was not what they had come to talk about, and Peter waited.

He knew their cautious reserve; they were obstinate and slow to move, and if he tried to hurry them might take alarm.

By and by one knocked out his pipe.
"How are you getting forrad with t' peat-cutting ?" he asked.
"We have cut enough to last for three or four months." "You'll need it aw.

Coal's a terrible price," another remarked.
"It will be dearer soon," said Peter.