Meg's eyes grew wide with dismay as Mildred scooted her chair out and tossed her napkin on the table in front of her, giving her daughter one last callous look as she did so. It had never occurred to her that her father would actually disapprove of what she had been doing. After all, she wouldn't have been driven to do any of those things if he had still been there to protect her, to keep her safe from the monster and her own mother.
She kept her vow of not crying when there was any chance someone might see her and swallowed back her tears. The lumpy porridge looked completely unappealing now, and she was certain any toast she put in her mouth would catch in her throat and choke her to death. Since she'd heard Tessa go out the back a few moments ago, she knew the coast was clear to do yet
