Gregory Smith put on a stern face, asserting his authority as an elder brother: "Get out of the way."
Lyra Smith's eyebrows twitched, and she asked in surprise, "Brother, are you going into my room?"
"Get out of the way."
"That's not appropriate," Lyra said, her eyelids drooping as she stared at the floor, where she had put her shoes on backwards. "Brother, we're both grown-ups now. You barging into your sister's room in the middle of the night isn't very proper, is it?"
What she said!
Gregory didn't know whether to be angry or to laugh. He took half a step back and said bluntly, "I saw Morris Jackson's car downstairs when I got back. Give me a good explanation."
Lyra's expression changed, having momentarily overlooked that detail. Uncle Five's car was still parked below the building.
Worse, Gregory had seen it!
Initially annoyed that her fun was interrupted, Lyra was now even more upset by her brother's questioning.