He fairly cowered before the nervous little girl and her aunt.
"Well, let father carry you in there, then," he said; and he lifted up the slight little thing, carried her across the hall to her room, and placed her in bed.
It was a very warm night, but Maria was shivering as if with cold.

He placed the coverings over her with clumsy solicitude.

Then he bent down and kissed her.

"Try and keep quiet, and go to sleep, darling," he said.

Then he went out.
Aunt Maria was waiting for him in the hall.