Childermass eyes the shelves, though he does not fear the items on them. He merely wishes that Norrell did not have so many things that she might use against them in such a way, if things should turn ugly. He idly wonders how much of the act is real. Certainly not her concern for them, to be sure. That's where she took things too far. Alright, well if it's emotions that she seeks to use on them, then it is emotions that Childermass will use against her.

"You wish to protect them, is that it?" he asks. "He frightens you, this man, that much is plain." That much she doesn't have to fake. He knows how it works, on the street. "What is it that he holds over you? It cannot be loyalty that holds your tongue." He leans in close again, drawing his words out longer to emphasize his point, in his own rough way, ignoring her lack of propriety in the moment as well as that look in her eye she is trying to use against them. "A good little girl from well-to-do family would not sell herself on the streets for spare change. Nor would an honest man use little boys to do his dirty work. You are connected, all of you, and the connection is this man. What is he playing at?"