"Oh, they do, do they?"
She turned away indifferently, as if to continue her walk, glancing sharply down in that familiar way of hers at the clover fringing the path.
"Do you think I needn't study?" The child had jumped up and joined them as they walked round the house. "You see, I hate doing it most awfully."
"Not 'awfully.'"
"Yes, really, especially être and avoir; but grandfather says—"
"I notice you use that word 'awfully' a great deal. Do you know what it means?"
Ethan preserved an embarrassed silence.
"Awful means that which inspires awe. Now, your feeling about French grammar does not inspire awe. French is all very well, but it's a good thing sometimes to consider your English. You couldn't have a better task than that in the holidays."
"Shall I carry your coat?" said the child, willing to change the topic, and laying his hand on the thin wrap she had on her arm.