neat-handed

And indeed, these royal cup-bearers are neat-handed at their task, mixing the bowl with infinite elegance, and pouring the wine into the beakers without spilling a drop, and when they hand the goblet they poise it deftly between thumb and finger for the banqueter to take.

Cyropaedia 2007

This neat-handed Phyllis used to pack up the nicest baskets of my provender, and convey them to somebody outside — I believe, on my conscience, to some poor friend in distress.

Roundabout Papers 2006

She was good-looking, graceful and neat-handed; though her features were irregular, they were pleasing; her fresh complexion, her thick flaxen hair, her lively grey eyes, her little round nose, her rosy lips and above all her half-mocking, half-provocative expression — were all rather charming in their way.

The Inn 2006

Hannah the neat-handed, she was bearing them up to the little patient when the frantic parent met her on the stair.

The Newcomes 2006

Soames watched her, neat-handed, neat-ankled, in neat light-blue print, with a face like a Botticelli — lots of faces like that in England!

Swan Song 2004

May I not say that the usual tether of this class, in the way of carnifers, cupbearers, and the rest, does not reach beyond neat-handed Phyllis and the greengrocer? and that Phyllis, neat-handed as she probably is, and the greengrocer, though he be ever so active, cannot administer a dinner to twelve people who are prohibited by a Medo – Persian law from all self-administration whatever?

Framley Parsonage 2004

Vanilla when once started gives little or no trouble, and its pods do not require any very careful manipulation before sending to Europe, and this is a very important point, for a great hindrance — THE great hindrance to plantation enterprise on the Coast — is the difficulty of getting neat-handed labourers.

Travels in West Africa 2003

Rosine liked a bribe, so she did her best, smoothed and plaited my hair as well as a coiffeur would have done, placed the lace collar mathematically straight, tied the neck-ribbon accurately — in short, did her work like the neat-handed Phillis she could be when she those.

Villette 2003

Afterward, we retired once more to the parlour and Imriel served cordial on a silver tray, taking pride in his role, as deft and neat-handed as an adept of the Night Court, watching and listening with all the acuity I had taught him.

Kushiel's Avatar Carey, Jacqueline, 1964- 2003

She acquired them with ease and practised them with the air of a dignified princess and neat-handed facility.

Tropic Days 2003