"You haven't brought anything with you?" asked the Professor. "I
mean, in the way of a frock of any sort."

Malvina, with a smile, gave a little gesture. It implied that all
there was of her and hers stood before him.

"We shall have to find you something," said the Professor.
"Something in which you can go about--"

The Professor had intended to say "our world," but hesitated, not
feeling positive at the moment to which he himself belonged;
Malvina's or Mrs. Muldoon's. So he made it "the" world instead.
Another gesture conveyed to him that Malvina was entirely in his
hands.

"What really have you got on?" asked the Professor. "I mean
underneath. Is it anything possible--for a day or two?"

Now Commander Raffleton, for some reason of his own not at all clear
to Malvina, had forbidden the taking off of the coat. But had said
nothing about undoing it. So by way of response Malvina undid it.

Upon which the Professor, to Malvina's surprise, acted precisely as
Commander Raffleton had done. That is to say, he hastily re-closed
the coat, returning the buttons to their buttonholes.

The fear may have come to Malvina that she was doomed never to be
rid of Commander Raffleton's coat.