“Because nothing makes old ladies so angry as that. Why, if you were to walk in and say, ‘How do you do, Aunt Emptycap?’ it might make her cross all the time you stay.”
“Might it really?” said Susan. She felt a little doubtful whether Freddie was to be trusted, and yet he spoke as if he knew. It was something, however, to have made him talk about it at all.
“She’s got another name, I suppose,” she continued; “something easier to say. I shall call her that, and then she couldn’t be angry.”
“Oh, yes, she could,” said Freddie quickly; “she would think that rude, because she’s Mother’s aunt, you know, our great aunt.”
“Do you suppose she’s very old?” asked Susan, putting the next question that had filled her mind.
“Very,” said Freddie; “and as for crossness!” He lifted up his eyes and hands without finishing the sentence.
Susan felt discouraged, though she had a feeling that Freddie was “making up.” Still, what he said was so like what she thought of the matter herself that it had a great effect upon her.
“If you like,” continued Freddie graciously, “I’ll tell you just what I think she’ll be like.”
Susan nodded, though she inwardly dreaded the description.
“You know,” began Freddie, opening his large eyes very wide, “that picture of old Mother Holle in Grimm?”