The General had known us both as girls, and soon we were talking over old faces and scenes, and it seemed as though we had never been parted. The rest of the party had gone for a long drive and would not be back until seven o’clock. So we three talked on and on.
“Oh, it does seem so good to be here, Pen,” I said, and added, “As I came up the driveway, the first thing I heard was your laugh. You know how mamma used to like to hear you laugh.”
“Yes, I remember how irrepressible I was. But, Trudy, you too would have laughed if you’d heard the General hang me.”
“Why, yes. Don’t you know the game?” Then seeing my bewilderment, she went on. “You must learn it. It’s fine for two people. Especially when one gets short of subjects to talk about.”
Here General Bolton threw back his head and laughed heartily. “Short of subjects to talk about! I guess Trudy would as soon believe the Atlantic had gone dry as to think your nimble tongue was ever still. No, indeed! On the contrary, Trudy, she was bound she would make me let out a secret, and I, old fool, would probably have fallen into her trap, only she warned me by—but never mind how she warned me, or even that will fail me next time. So I hung her. Yes, I caught her well.” Then with a chuckle. “Tell her how, Pen, you know best how, for you know you were _hung_, and well hung.” And again he laughed.
“That’s true. But try me again sometime, or rather, I’ll try you and we’ll see who does the _hanging_. No, not now, you need not look so eager.”
“No, indeed I am not. Just now however I mean to take Gertrude and show her where her room is. She has been ever so patient.”
“But, my dear, please explain first about the _hanging_. It sounds so sanguinary.”
“Well, it is. Now listen and I’ll explain, and then we’ll go indoors. ‘To hang a person with a word,’ is the name of the game. You take any word you like in your mind and simply mention the number of letters it has. The other party has to guess, by letters, without making twelve misses. If she fails to guess without twelve wrong guesses, she is _hung_ as I was. That doesn’t seem very clear to you, I suppose.”
“I’ll take a word and show you. Now, General, I did not mean to give you your battle now. But you may have it if you’re ready.”
