Page:The Zankiwank & the Bletherwitch (IA zankiwankblether00fitziala).pdf/148

 he is with the pink eye-brows and green nose. Don’t say anything about his personal appearance. What I was going to say he will say instead. It is a habit we have occasionally. He is my grandfather, you know.”

“Your grandfather! What! that young man? Why, he is not more than twenty-two and three quarters, I’m sure,” replied Maude.

“You are right. He is twenty-two and three quarters. You don’t quite understand our relationships. The boy, as you have no doubt heard, is father to the man. Very well. I am the man. When he was a boy on my aunt’s side he was father to me. That’s plain enough. He has grown older since then, though he is little more than a boy in discretion still, therefore he is my grandfather.”

“How very absurdly you do talk, Mr Zankiwank,” laughed Willie; “but here is your grandfather,” and at that moment Jorumgander the Younger left his shop and approached them with a case of pens which he offered for sale.