Anne smiled down shyly. "I don't want to be greedy." She did.

Elijah shook his head. "It isn't being greedy. You deserve to ear like everyone else. I'd feel bad thinking you couldn't have lunch because you were working for me."

"Alright... Thank you." She said softly, and she ate her stew.

He nodded and ate slowly. He went and got her seconds when her bowl was empty. "When you're done, I'll walk you home. Alright? I hope I wasn't too hard on you."

Anne dug into her second bowl, but then looked up with a frown. "Hard? How so? You've been nowt but kindness!"

Elijah shrugged as he finished his bowl and just relaxed. "I always worry I'm too hard on people sometimes. What we perceive and what is real are two different things, even if they usually coincide."

Anne smiled at him. "Elijah. I've never seen you be hard on anyone. Father says the street kids have become more criminal since you took over." Wait... was that meant for Elijah's ears? Anne quickly continued eating.

Elijah blinked and his smile faded. "That is.. a tricky situation. I haven't figured out a good middle ground yet."

"I shouldn't have said that." muttered Anne.

Elijah shook his head. "You were honest. No need to apologize. Ben doesn't understand, is all. If I go hard on the kids I have to be hard on everyone the same. and the kids need more than just punishment. It makes them just mad at the system."