"I am so sorry that you had to come up these winding steps," she added, for she noticed that the stout gentleman had to wipe his face after the great exertion.

"I should have been very glad to go down to you, if you had let me know that you were here." The lady meanwhile had led the gentleman into the room and asked him to seat himself.
"As your guardian I simply had to come once to see you," he declared, seating himself on an old sofa and still leaning with both hands on the golden knob of his cane.

"I have to tell you, my dear Mrs.Halm, that I am sorry you moved to town.

You should have followed my advice and lived in a small house in the country.

It would have been so much more practical for you than to live in this garret lodging where you have no conveniences whatever.