"You're the most modern witch I've seen," Yuri said with an appreciative laugh. "The breakfast island is nice... I've always liked them. They make it seem less like a hen mother's domain, I suppose." He stooped slightly and stretched his fingers out for the dog to sniff. "I must admit, I prefer cats to dogs. I hope she comes out- no offense, friend," he added to the snowy animal.
When she mentioned the school in tht way, he grinned. "Smart? Perhaps quite a clever essayist. Mm... I did well in school, mainly because I didn't speak to anyone. I just read. The other kids said I had strange ideas." At this, he made the eye with the slightly drooping eyelid cross, but he couldn't maintain it long.