I lifted the child to my knee, and speaking more gently to him than I had ever done, I asked:
“Di, did you and Tolly play in the sandpile yesterday?”
He was quite emphatic in his affirmative.
“Well, tell Ocean: Did Tolly go away and leave you?”
“Tolly goed away,” he confirmed.
“Oh, Lucien!” protested Beth, laughing. “He’s too little to know what you are talking about or to remember.”
“Lucien’s ruling passion strong in death,” murmured Rob. “He can’t help cross-examining the cradle even!”
“Which way,” I resumed, ignoring these interruptions, “did Tolly go––that way?” pointing towards the woods.
“No! Tolly goed––” and he trailed off into his baby jargon which no one could understand, but he pointed to the lake.