"Yes, it does."
"But papa drinks wine," and the little round face wore a look of perplexity.
As Mrs. Granger did not reply, Alice said again,
"Say, mamma, papa drinks wine. Does it make him walk like that and talk so that nobody can understand him? Say, mamma!"
What could the mother say? How should she teach her darling to hate the wine cup and at the same time preserve the child's respect and love for her father?
"My darling," she said at length, "wine is a dangerous thing. I will teach you all about it. And papa thinks that a little does not hurt anybody; but perhaps when you know more about it, you and I can coax him not to drink any."
That day at dinner Alice astonished her father by exclaiming suddenly,
"Papa, I wish you wouldn't drink any more wine!"
Mr. Granger looked up in surprise, but he laughed and asked,
"Why not?"