Without in the least understanding what it was all about, they heard her saying to the man:
“And now what’s to become of these poor lambs?”
The old stranger passed a slow gray hand across his dismal face and pondered.
The children pointed, then remembered that it is impolite to point, and drew back their little index hands and whispered:
“Auntie, what you up so early for?” and, “Who is that?”
And she whispered, “S-h-h!”
Being denied the answer to this charade, they took up a new interest.
“I wonder is grandpapa up, too, and all dressed,” said Victor.
“And maybe grandmamma,” Bettina shrilled.
“I’ll beat you to their room,” said Victor.