Old Tramp vs. New Floozy

The idle tramps always felt sure they could get a copper from Seth; they scarcely ever spoke to Adam. Adam Bede by George Eliot.

Reading those words I was mesmerized by the strength of the description. The showing instead of the telling of how forboding Adam's character and looks were.

I read this to my beloved husband who does not read nor like old English Literature. He looked at me and said, "Poor Adam."

To which I replied, "Poor Adam? No no. Listen to the words."
So, I read it again. He...