The tune changed. “Here’s something merrier.” Petey sat and stared out over the valley. Dad would marry that girl. Yes, that girl who had kissed him and slobbered over him, saying she’d try to be a good mother to him, and all. His chair creaked as he involuntarily gave his body a painful twist.
The tune stopped suddenly, and Granddad said, “It’s a poor tune, except to be dancing to.” And then, “it’s a fine girl your father is going to marry. He’ll feel young again, with a pretty wife like that. And what would an old fellow like me do around the house, getting in the way, an old nuisance, what with my talk of aches and pains! And then there’ll be babies coming, and I’d not want to be there to hear them crying all hours. It’s best that I take myself off like I’m doing. One more tune or two, and then we’ll go to bed to get some sleep against the morning when I’ll pack up my fine blanket and take my leave. Listen to this, will you? It’s a bit sad, but a fine tune for a night likes this.”