Felix Holt: The Radical

After an interval, in which his wife stood perfectly still, observing him, he began toput back the drawers in their places in the row of cabinets which extended underthe bookshelves at one end of the library. When they were all put back and closed, Mrs. Transome turned away, and the frightened old man seated himself withNimrod the retriever on an ottoman. Peeping at him again, a few minutes after, shesaw that he had his arm round Nimrod's neck, and was uttering his thoughts to thedog in a loud whisper, as little children do to any object near them when theybelieve themselves unwatched