“Yes, Grandpapa, I am very fond of him.”
“Why?” said Grandpapa sharply.
“Because he amuses me,” answered Lydia truthfully.
“Ah ha! we all find it amusing to see other people being made fools of!” was Grandpapa’s charitable sentiment. “Well, you shall have him one of these days, Lyddie. I hope you’ll have a good home to give him. What do you mean to do when you’re grown up?”
“Write books,” said Lydia.
To Aunt Beryl she would have said, “Get married and have two boys and a little girl, auntie”—but her Aunt Beryl would never have dreamt of asking her this question.
“Heigh?” said Grandpapa, in a rather astonished voice.
“Write books.”
“A blue stocking never gets a husband,” said Grandpapa sententiously.
Lydia did not know what a blue stocking was, although she deduced that it was no compliment to be called one, but she was too proud to ask.