This was one of his ways of making sure that she and the Lump were properly fed, without weakening her independence by sapping her belief that she really supported the two of them.
Accordingly Millicent made an excellent meal; and it restored her strength and her spirits.

She was surprised by the fact that the Lump had a whole mugful of milk with his dinner, for she was unused to this lavishness with that luxury in a child's diet.

Pollyooly explained that it had been an article of faith with her Aunt Hannah that a young child needed a pint of milk a day; therefore the Lump always had one.
Millicent was deeply impressed: this was indeed affluence.
She helped Pollyooly wash up after their dinner; and then Pollyooly suggested that it would be well for her to look very clean indeed when she was presented to Mr.Ruffin.
"He's so particular about children being clean.

Mr.Gedge-Tomkins isn't nearly so particular," she said apologetically.

"I work for him, too, you know.