“Right you are!” Billy approved. He searched among the coals in the hod until he found a hard piece of slate.
“All ready now!” he said briskly. “Your turn, first, Rosie, because you’re company.”
Rosie failed on “fivesy.” Maida’s turn came next and she failed on “threesy.” Billy followed Maida but he hopped on the line on “twosy.”
“Oi belave Oi cud play that game, ould as Oi am,” Granny said suddenly.
“I bet you could,” Billy said.
“Sure, ’twas a foine player Oi was when Oi was a little colleen.”
“Come on, Granny,” Billy said.
The two little girls jumped up and down, clapping their hands and shrieking, “Granny’s going to play!” “Granny’s going to play!” They made so much noise finally, that Billy had to threaten to stand them on their heads in a corner.
Granny took her turn after Billy. She hopped about like a very active and a very benevolent old fairy.
“Oh, doesn’t she look like the Dame in fairy tales?” Maida said.