Pierre Auguste Renoir Dance in the Country

Pierre Auguste Renoir Dance in the CountryPierre Auguste Renoir Dance in the CityJoaquin Sorolla y Bastida Beaching the Boat (study)
first, madam," said Cutangle.
"Them cigaretty things," asked Granny, "are they good for the nerves?"
Cutangle opened his mouth to point out very courteously that tobacco was a habit reserved for wizards, but thought "She said she threw it in the river . . . ."
The old wizard and the elderly witch stared at each other, their faces illuminated by a flare of lightning outside.
Cutangle shook his head. "The river's flooding," he said. "It's a million-to-one chance."
Granny smiled grimly. It was the sort of smile that wolves ran away from. Granny grasped better of it. He extended the tobacco pouch towards Granny. She told him about Esk's birth, and the coming of the old wizard, and the staff, and Esk's forays into magic. By the time she had finished she had succeeded in rolling a tight, thin cylinder that burned with a small blue flame and made her eyes water. "I don't know that shaky nerves wouldn't be better," she wheezed. Cutangle wasn't listening. "This is quite astonishing," he said. "You say the child didn't suffer in any way?" "Not that I noticed," said Granny. "The staff seemed - well, on her side, if you know what I mean." "And where is this staff now?"