“I don’t see why,” said Jeremy slowly. “He’s let me go out alone when I was ever so small before I went to school.”
“You can be sure he has his reasons,” said Aunt Amy. She suddenly sat down on one of the dining-room chairs and said, “Come here, Jeremy.”
He came to her reluctantly. She put him in front of her and laid her hands on his shoulders and stared at him. He wriggled uncomfortably, wishing to escape from her projecting tooth and her eyes that were here grey and there green. Herself meanwhile felt a sudden warmth of sentiment. She wanted to be kind to him; why, she knew not.
“You’re getting a big boy now, Jeremy.” She paused.
“Yes,” said Jeremy.
“And you don’t want to be a sulky big boy, do you?”
“I’m not sulky,” said Jeremy.
“No, dear, I’m sure you’re not. But you’re not being quite the bright willing boy we’d like to see you. You know that we all love you, don’t you?”
“Yes,” said Jeremy.
“Well, then, you must repay our love and show us that you are happy and willing to do what your father and mother wish.”