Hi I presume that the boy is buying these robes and that they are too long. He is standing on the stool so that the witch can shorten the robes. The witch will pin up his robes - she will turn the robe up to the required length and then use pins

Hi I'm sorry to have kept you waiting - you are no longer waiting. I'm sorry to keep you waiting - you are still waiting.

Hi Is it correct to view "goes about her chores" in the above as "starts doing her chores?" - Yes

Hi. He/she has left the line open. He/she has left the phone off the hook.

Hi The father is using 'Whoa there, Nellie' whilst talking to his son Donald, as if he were talking to a horse.

Hi Well, from the extract it sounds as though the father is calling his son 'Nellie'

Hi Does the bolded part in the above mean "Who is there, Nellie?" - No 'Whoa there' = stop/hold on. It is usually used to tell a horse to stop. Informally used to tell a person to stop doing what they are doing or to do things

Hi It sounds as though the landlord is looking for a professional person - someone who works standard hours. 9 - 5 ish = from around nine o'clock in the morning to around five o'clock in the afternoon.

One offering - 'drawback'

Hi I am busy in doing my homework. I am busy doing my homework. I am busy with my homework.