But, whatever the facts might be, Mr.Boyce's adroit use of them had made a great difference to his position in his own household.
His wife's sarcastic freedom of manner was less apparent; and he was obviously less in awe of her.

Meanwhile he was as sore as ever towards the Raeburns, and no more inclined to take any particular pleasure in Marcella's prospects, or to make himself agreeable towards his future son-in-law.

He and Mrs.Boyce had been formally asked in Miss Raeburn's best hand to the Court ball, but he had at once snappishly announced his intention of staying at home.

Marcella sometimes looked back with astonishment to his eagerness for social notice when they first came to Mellor.

Clearly the rising irritability of illness had made it doubly unpleasant to him to owe all that he was likely to get on that score to his own daughter; and, moreover, he had learnt to occupy himself more continuously on his own land and with his own affairs.
As to the state of the village, neither Marcella's entreaties nor reproaches had any effect upon him.