It made me realise that he really meant to stick by me and pull me through my troubles, and the sense of his interest in me made up wonderfully for the loneliness which had been growing on me ever since I entered Low Heath that morning.
Pridgin, as became a member of the Eleven, received me with dignity quite devoid of curiosity.

He informed Tempest that he considered it was playing it pretty low down on him to let an idiot like me loose on him.

Still, times were bad, and one must put up with what one could get.
Whereat I had the good sense to grin appreciatively, and was thereupon permitted to boil my new master's eggs and stand by the kettle until it was ready for the tea..