His eyes, too, seemed to have grown bigger.

Alfred had been a vulgar little boy, addicted to slang and immoderately fond of noisy games.

Burton tried to call him back to his mind.

It was impossible to connect him in any way with the child whom, through a crack in the door, he could see standing upon a chair the better to scrutinize closely the few engravings which hung upon the wall.

Without a doubt, a new responsibility in life had arrived.