“You know,” Herr Settembrini answered him very deliberately, “my opinion of these productions. You know too that those spots and shadows there are very largely of physiological origin. I have seen a hundred such pictures, looking very like this of yours; the decision as to whether they offered definite proof or not was left more or less to the discretion of the person looking at them. I speak as a layman, but a layman of a good many years’ experience.”

“Does your own look much worse than this one?”

“Rather worse. I am aware, however, that our lords and masters do not base any diagnosis on the evidence of these toys alone. Then you purpose stopping the winter up here with us?”

“Yes⁠—Lord knows⁠—I am beginning to get used to the idea of not going back until my cousin does.”

“Getting used, that is, to not getting used⁠—you put that very wittily. I hope you have received supplies from home⁠—winter clothing, stout footgear?”