I could see at once that if I didn't treat them both as a couple of unruly children there was going to be still worse trouble in the future. So I wrested the machine from Gran'pa, overcame my own desire to test it, and wheeled it quickly towards the coal-house, while Molly and the old man followed ruefully and protestingly behind.
Only when the thing was safely garaged and under lock and key did I once more feel at ease.
"You're acting in a very high-handed manner, George," said Gran'pa.
"It is necessary!"
"Tut—tut!"
"It's not 'tut-tut'!" I snapped, completely losing my temper. "This is my house and my garden—and my child. I won't have them publicly disgraced and demoralized by such clownish antics. Do try and be a reasonable person and think of your dignity—even if you won't think of mine."
He grew calmer and more docile at that. He even performed the unnerving ceremony of apologizing.
"That's all right," I answered, hurriedly. "Let's get in the house and hide. I feel that every eye in the Avenue is on this place. We're visible even from here."
He glanced up at the bedroom windows of the two neighboring houses, and at last retreated through the kitchen door.
In the sheltered security of my own dining-room I sought further information on this strange outbreak of second childhood. With a look of the utmost parental severity, I checked Molly's excited flow of questions and ordered her either to leave the room or to be quiet. Seeing that I was roused and angry, she tactfully obeyed, and sat down on the edge of a chair, staring at Gran'pa in wide-eyed admiration and amazement. I turned and faced him.