Mr Michaelis was always so nice and kind to him.

He seemed to like the boy.

Well, the boy was a good boy.
"You too seem to have grown quite fond of him of late," she added, after a pause, with her inflexible assurance.
Mr Verloc tying up the cardboard box into a parcel for the post, broke the string by an injudicious jerk, and muttered several swear words confidentially to himself.

Then raising his tone to the usual husky mutter, he announced his willingness to take Stevie into the country himself, and leave him all safe with Michaelis.
He carried out this scheme on the very next day.

Stevie offered no objection.