Grandmother said:
‘Her father’s name was Lane Watson.’
‘Yes, I know, but she thinks that sounds pretentious. She says their name was really only Watson to begin with. She hates fuss.’
‘It is generally simpler to have the same name as one’s parents until one is married,’
‘I don’t think Sophia’s parents can be very nice people. They have not been kind to her.’
‘Ah,’ said Grandmother slowly. ‘That is a different matter.’
‘The trees were beautiful in Richmond Park, so bright and red and gold. I suppose they have more colour when the summer has been hot. The leaves were coming down all round us, like rain, in the wind. It was very windy.’
Grandmother said:
‘Oh.’
She looked at Hugo over her spectacles, and Hugo flushed.