“Tommy had a good ma,” the old man went on. “But his pa, if I must say so as an own brother, was a bad one. So it’s jest as well, I s’pose, everything considered, that he’s dead. Fur them kind of people only make the world unhappier.”
Poppy turned curiously to the kid.
“Did you know,” says he, “that your grandfather lives in Tutter?”
“Huh!” came the scowl. “I’m not interested in him.”
“He’s a nice old man.”
“That’s what you say.”
“Have you ever seen him?”
“No, nor I don’t ever care to.”
“Why do you hate him?” says Poppy curiously.
“Why shouldn’t I hate him,” the kid’s eyes blazed, “after the way he turned down my mother.”