His unconsidered and somewhat impetuous reply seemed to confuse Eris. There was a silence, then:
“That’s the truth,” he repeated; “—it is a privilege to be with you.”
Her voice came, a little wistful, yet humourously incredulous:
“You say such kind things, Mr. Annan.... Thank you.”
With a buoyant sense of having begun the day right, Annan took a noisy bath, ate every scrap of breakfast, and sat down before his desk in lively spirits, when Mrs. Sniffen had finished with his quarters.
“Xantippe,” he said gaily, “do you know that little Miss Odell has become a very clever and promising professional?”
“That baby, sir?”
“That child. What do you think of that, Xantippe?”
Mrs. Sniffen’s countenance became grim: