“Much too large,” she said.
“All the rooms are large in this house,” I answered.
“Oh, we’ll choose a cosier one than this—eh, Dumps?” she said.
“Can’t find one in this house,” was my response.
“Well, this will do for to-night.”
She looked at me. The kindness in her eyes seemed kinder than ever. It would have been difficult, had she not been my step-mother, to resist her; but being my step-mother, I stood very cold and still, responding quite civilly when she spoke, but not offering any advances on my part.
She had washed her hands now, and the fire was blazing brightly. She poured some hot water into a basin.
“This is for the Professor,” she said. “He must warm himself. He is very cold, dear man! He is a very precious creature, and—”
I wished she would not talk of him like that. I felt a sense of irritation. Then I looked at her and the irritation vanished.
“The boys are so hungry,” I said.