house like a cottage / hut hung with reed screens

hut hung with reed screens / house like a cottage

(of the way in which one speaks) noncommittally / (of the way in which one speaks) as if trying to shirk a responsibility / (of the way in which one speaks) evasively

make a noncommittal answer / shirk [responsibility] / be evasive

idle *one's time away / live aimlessly / spend *one's time lazily / lead an idle life

riding together

riding together

riding together

riding together

fellow passenger