“That’s quite an appetite you have there,” Desiree said, laughing.
Pausing, he dithered and finally shook his head at the servant, refusing yet another spoonful of the excellent potatoes.
“Oh, no, don’t let me stop you.” Desiree at once sounded apologetic, but Ignatius, trying to control his embarrassment, shook his head at her.
“That is quite all right.”
“Nonsense,” Jacques spoke up. He waved to the servant, telling the man to heap more potatoes onto Ignatius’s plate and then to add more meat. “Sir, are you paying this tutor enough? He is wasting away before our eyes.”
“I assure you, I am not,” Ignatius said, his voice tight.
“You certainly tuck in as if you do not get enough to eat,” Desiree reproached.