Guy generally won, and sometimes George; Hugo and Walter were the worst. Hugo laughed and looked across at Walter.
‘You and I are competing for the Donkey prize,’ he said.
Walter tried to laugh too, but he looked worried; I could see that he thought it a silly game, and that spoilt the fun for me.
I had to go home early to feed Eleanor. The others stayed on to play longer. I ran upstairs to Grandmother to say ‘good night.’ She was sitting by the fire, for she always had a fire in her room, with her book on her knee and her spectacles on the table by her side. She was not reading, and she looked very tired. I realized, with a sudden shock, that she was old.
She started when I came in, and then smiled.
‘I have come to say “good night,” Grandmother,’ I said.
She put both her hands on my shoulders, as I stooped down.
She said:
‘Dear child, bless you. I am happy about you.’
I said: