Wiggins grins good natured. "Is this the niece you mentioned?" says he.
Aunty admits that it is, and introduces Vee.
Then Wiggins looks inquirin' at me. "Your son?" he asks.
And you should have seen Aunty's face pink up at that. "Certainly not!" says she.
"Oh!" says Woodie, screwin' up one corner of his mouth and tippin' me the wink.
I knew if I got a look at Vee I'd have to haw-haw; so I backs around with one hand behind me and we swaps a finger squeeze.
Then Aunty jumps in with the quick shift. She asks him patronizin' if he finds the grocery business int'restin'. He admits that he does.
"How odd!" says Aunty. "But I presume that you hope to retire very soon?"
"Eh?" says he. "Quit the one thing I can do best? Why?"
"But surely," she goes on, "you can hardly find such a business congenial. It is so—so—well, so petty and sordid?"