The whole house had, really—the entire atmosphere of the place had lifted. Pete wouldn’t admit it for worlds, but he sometimes caught himself talking to the house when there was no one else around. A Don’t you feel better now? whenever he fixed a loose banister spoke, or a There, isn’t that nice? when the sitting room flowers got freshened up. And sometimes he could swear Briarwood House give a kind of contented creak in response.
