“What?”
“Why, that old monster lying there in the valley.”
I could see that she was surprised and even a little alarmed. So I began intently to admire her young cabbages and comment on the perfection of her geraniums. But I caught her eying me from time to time as I leaned there on the fence, and I knew that she would come back sooner or later to my remark about the monster. Having shocked your friend (not too unpleasantly), abide your time, and he will want to be shocked again. So I was not at all surprised to hear her ask:
“Have you travelled far?”
“I should say so!” I replied. “I've been on a very long journey. I've seen many strange sights and met many wonderful people.”
“You may have been in California, then. I have a daughter in California.”
“No,” said I, “I was never in California.”
“You've been a long time from home, you say?”
“A very long time from home.”
“How long?”