did not quite understand her, but he did not try to, then; he varied the subject.
'How about Gran?'
'Oh, that Gran!' cried Gladys. 'I can't suffer him at all.'
'Can't suffer Gran! What on earth do you mean, Gladys?'
'I mean that he was just a little beast in the boat! You think he was as glad to see you as you were him, because you judge by yourself; but not a bit of it; I know better. It was all put on with him, and a small "all" too. Then you asked him to tell me about the places we passed, and he only laughed at me. Ah, you may laugh at people without moving a muscle, but people may see it all the same; and I did, all along; and just before we got here I very near told him so. If I had, I'd have given him one, you stake your life!'
'I'm glad you didn't,' said Alfred devoutly, but in great trouble. 'I never heard him say anything to rankle like that; I thought he was very jolly, if you ask me. And really, Gladdie, old Gran's as good a fellow as ever lived; besides which, he has all the brains of the family.'
'Perhaps,' said Gladys, softening, 'my
