Grandpa pretended he did not hear. He only said, “This is very good tea for cold tea.”
Freddie said, “I wonder if Ma went up town.”
Teddie said, “I wonder if Pa went to the farm.”
“Speak a little louder,” said Grandpa Grimes. “How can you expect an old man to hear?”
Then he winked one eye at Humpty Dumpty and he winked the other eye at the cat, for he could hear as well as any of them.
Humpty Dumpty said, “Tell us a story, please, Grandpa.”
“Who will wash dishes?” asked Grandpa.
“I will,” said all the children at once.
“Look out, Humpty Dumpty, or you will fall off the sofa,” said Grandpa Grimes.
The twins washed and wiped the dishes and then they shouted, “Now for the story! Tell us the story!”