She spared presently a glance away from her dishing-up for the inspection of that face and those hands which Stevie, approaching the kitchen table, offered for her approval with an air of self-assurance hiding a perpetual residue of anxiety.

Formerly the anger of the father was the supremely effective sanction of these rites, but Mr Verloc's placidity in domestic life would have made all mention of anger incredible even to poor Stevie's nervousness.

The theory was that Mr Verloc would have been inexpressibly pained and shocked by any deficiency of cleanliness at meal times.

Winnie after the death of her father found considerable consolation in the feeling that she need no longer tremble for poor Stevie.

She could not bear to see the boy hurt.