She was aware also that it was her work.

And with peaceful pride she congratulated herself on a certain resolution she had taken a few years before.

It had cost her some effort, and even a few tears.
She congratulated herself still more on observing in the course of days that Mr Verloc seemed to be taking kindly to Stevie's companionship.
Now, when ready to go out for his walk, Mr Verloc called aloud to the boy, in the spirit, no doubt, in which a man invites the attendance of the household dog, though, of course, in a different manner.

In the house Mr Verloc could be detected staring curiously at Stevie a good deal.

His own demeanour had changed.