He was always gruff with him, but he has been kind to the children since.

A person is never known till a person is proved." "Have many people been kind to the children ?" asked Mr.Jarndyce.
"Upon the whole, not so bad, sir," said Mrs.Blinder; "but certainly not so many as would have been if their father's calling had been different.

Mr.Coavins gave a guinea, and the follerers made up a little purse.

Some neighbours in the yard that had always joked and tapped their shoulders when he went by came forward with a little subscription, and--in general--not so bad.

Similarly with Charlotte.
Some people won't employ her because she was a follerer's child; some people that do employ her cast it at her; some make a merit of having her to work for them, with that and all her draw-backs upon her, and perhaps pay her less and put upon her more.