“Oh, it does seem so good to be here, Pen,” I said, and added, “As I came up the driveway, the first thing I heard was your laugh. You know how mamma used to like to hear you laugh.”
“Yes, I remember how irrepressible I was. But, Trudy, you too would have laughed if you’d heard the General hang me.”
“Hang you?”
“Why, yes. Don’t you know the game?” Then seeing my bewilderment, she went on. “You must learn it. It’s fine for two people. Especially when one gets short of subjects to talk about.”
Here General Bolton threw back his head and laughed heartily. “Short of subjects to talk about! I guess Trudy would as soon believe the Atlantic had gone dry as to think your nimble tongue was ever still. No, indeed! On the contrary, Trudy, she was bound she would make me let out a secret, and I, old fool, would probably have fallen into her trap, only she warned me by—but never mind how she warned me, or even that will fail me next time. So I hung her. Yes, I caught her well.” Then with a chuckle. “Tell her how, Pen, you know best how, for you know you were hung, and well hung.” And again he laughed.
“That’s true. But try me again sometime, or rather, I’ll try you and we’ll see who does the hanging. No, not now, you need not look so eager.”
“Bah, you’re afraid.”
“No, indeed I am not. Just now however I mean to take Gertrude and show her where her room is. She has been ever so patient.”
“But, my dear, please explain first about the hanging. It sounds so sanguinary.”