“Oh—”
“I had no trouble with Grandpa at all. He agreed to sit on the platform with me—”
“Indeed!”
“But I don’t think he really understood what the meeting was about—”
“Just to please his grandchick, however, the old traitor agreed to preside at my funeral—eh?”
“He won’t if you say not—shall I tell him to keep off? Marya will be awfully disappointed if we make them get down—”
“No—let him stay. Maybe he can placate the enemy. They can hold him as hostage for my good behavior.”
The hand on his arm pressed tighter.
“It’s so sweet of you, Uncy!”
“At what hour does this paragon of all the virtues, male and female, harangue the mob?”