"Not very lively company, is she, dear ?" "No, sir," replied Maria, simply.
Harry looked lovingly at her, then his eyes fell on the door of the room which had been papered that day.

It occurred to him to go in and see how the new paper looked.
"Come in with father, and let's see the improvements," he said, in a gay voice, to Maria.
Maria followed him into the room.

It would have been difficult to say whether triumphant malice and daring, or fear, prevailed in her heart.
Harry, carrying the lamp, entered the room, with Maria slinking at his heels.

The first thing he saw was the torn paper.
"Hullo!" said he.

He approached the bay-window with his lamp.
"Confound those paperers!" he said.
For a minute Maria did not say a word.