"I do awfu'," answered Diana. "You isn't a bad old man, not at all," she continued. Here she raised her fat hand and stroked his flabby cheek. "You hates writing sermons, don't you?"
"Diana," he answered, "I would rather you did not speak about it."
"Oh, I can keep secrets," replied Diana.
"Well, in that case, to be quite frank with you, I do not care for writing sermons."
"And I don't care for learning lessons. You didn't mean to sting me so bad with that howid wod, did you, Uncle William?"
Mr. Dolman made no reply with his lips, for he did not like to defy his wife's authority, but Diana read his thoughts in his rather dull blue eyes.
"You is a kind old man," she said; "that is, when you isn't tempted by that naughty, howid woman. You is a kind old man by yourself, and you shan't be shotted."
"What do you mean by being shotted, Diana?"
But here Diana pursed up her rosy lips and looked rather solemn.
"That's a secret," she answered. "Uncle William, may I have a whole holiday to-day?"