“Fine! I’m glad you are beginning to take an interest in the stars. They have kept me company many a night at sea, and seem like real friends. I was wondering what you were going to do with that finder. I’m glad you can make use of it.”
“I think it would really be better than the umbrella, but I’ll start in with that, for I think in sticking them on I’ll get to know the stars better; after a while I can discard it. The Prices have such a perfectly dandy place to look from, that cupola, you know. Clausie wants me to come out and spend Friday nights with her; Win’s going to. Don’t you think it will be all right?”
“Why, I don’t see why not. You’d better ask your grandmother, however.”
“Oh, but, Grad, you know how fussy Gradda is. She has never let me spend the night with any of my girl friends, never, never. I don’t know what she is afraid of, germs or what, but anyway, she has some sort of idea that I’ll come home with the measles or that the house will burn down or that they’ll kidnap me or something; I don’t know what. Do please, like a darling, say I can go, and I shall have that much to depend upon.”
“But suppose she declares that you can’t, what then?”
“Then you and I will have to join forces. You wouldn’t go back on your word, of course, and you’ll help me argue her into saying yes. Please, most wise and sapient seignor, say I may go.” Joanne dropped on her knees before her grandfather and held up her hands in supplication. “You won’t, oh, I know you won’t afflict me so sorely as to deny your consent, and send me down to the depths of despair. Sweet sir, do not deny me here a suppliant for your favor.”
“You ridiculous child, get up. State precisely what you want me to do.”
Joanne settled herself upon her grandfather’s knee and began to toy with the locks of hair which touched his forehead. “I want you to say up and down, cross my heart, ‘Yes, Joanne, you may go.’ Then if Gradda objects you must gird on your armor and do battle for me.”
“It strikes me that you are very capable of doing battle for yourself.”
“But what can one poor weak maid do alone? I need your valorous assistance to bring her around to our point of view. Do you promise?” She took her grandfather’s face between her hands. “I feel a fountain of tears ready to gush forth at the very thought that you may desert me in my hour of need.”