A man--that explains it--a man! He is always poring over his books and writings; and Miss Redwood, at her great age, is in bed half the day.
Not a thing do I know about this new inmate of ours, except that I am to take her back with me.

You would feel some curiosity yourself in my place, wouldn't you?
Now do tell me.

What sort of girl is Miss Emily Brown ?" The name that he was perpetually thinking of--on this woman's lips! Alban looked at her.
"Well," said Mrs.Rook, "am I to have no answer?
Ah, you want leading.
So like a man again! Is she pretty ?" Still examining the housekeeper with mingled feelings of interest and distrust, Alban answered ungraciously: "Yes." "Good-tempered ?" Alban again said "Yes." "So much about herself," Mrs.Rook remarked.

"About her family now ?" She shifted her bag restlessly from one hand to another.

"Perhaps you can tell me if Miss Emily's father--" she suddenly corrected herself--"if Miss Emily's parents are living ?" "I don't know." "You mean you won't tell me." "I mean exactly what I have said." "Oh, it doesn't matter," Mrs.Rook rejoined; "I shall find out at the school.