The boy’s mouth opened to say, “All right,” but he checked himself.
“That’s right!” cried the doctor. “I see you are teachable. You were going to say ‘all right.’”
“You told me not to.”
“I did; and I’m very pleased to find you did not do it.”
“I say, shall I have to clean the knives?”
“No, no, no.”
“Nor yet the boots and shoes?”
“No, boy; no.”
“I shall have to fetch the water then, shan’t I?”
“My good boy, nothing of the kind. You are going to live with us, and you are my adopted son,” said the doctor rather pompously, while Helen sighed.