Mr. Marsden's actual verbal praise of any character is kept to a minimum in this story. He's not a nice guy. The factory's bottom dollar is most important to him, and making sexual advances on the girls is the second most important thing to him. Throughout much of Lyddie's time on the factory floor, Mr. Marsden will frequently place a "comforting" hand on Lyddie. It's not comforting. He's making creepy sexual advances on Lyddie. At one point, Lyddie does get injured, and Mr. Marsden actually shows some concern. This is likely because Lyddie is one of the factory's top producing girls. Lyddie comes back to work in Chapter 14, and Mr. Marsden stops by her. He tells Lyddie that the factory is going to get some new girls in the next few days. This is when he gives Lyddie complimentary praise. He tells Lyddie that the new girls are "not nearly so clever as you." He would like Lyddie train one of the new girls. Lyddie doesn't want to. She believes her production will be slowed down. Mr. Marsden says it will be just for a few days, and then he gives one more compliment to Lyddie. He says, "You're my prize girl here."