MY CHILDHOOD
240
"I don't know."
"Grandfather beats you, does he?" "Not so much now."
"Oh ? Well, now, you tell me all well ?" tell me whatever you like 1
.
.
.
.
.
about
it
.
.
.
.
did not want to speak about grandfather, I told her about the kind man who used to live in that room,
As
I
whom no
one
liked,
and who was turned out by grand-
I could see that she did not like this story as
father.
she said: ''Well,
and what else?"
I told her about the three boys,
nel
had driven me out of
his
yard ; and her hold upon
me tightened as she listened. "What nonsense !" she exclaimed and was
and how the Colo-
with flashing eyes,
gazing on the floor. was grandfather angry with you?"
silent a minute,
"Why
"Because
I
I asked.
have done wrong, according to him."
?" "In not bringing that baby here She started violently, frowning, and biting her
then she burst into a laugh and pressed
me more
lips ;
closely
to her, as she said: little monster Now, you are to hold your hear? about do Never speak about that, tongue you it forget you ever heard it, in fact."
"Oh, you
And
!
time; but I
me
and sternly for some did not understand what she said, and
she spoke to
quietly