“Why are you always hanging around the shore?” I heard an irritated male voice say.
“It’s none of your business!” answered a girl, defiantly.
I then recognized them – it was the Hunchback and his daughter.
“How is it none of my business?” asked the Hunchback, in a dull tone.
Jergi answered with extreme irritation:
“I said it isn’t any of your business, so it isn’t any of your business!”
“Who on earth do you...” The crescendoing drumming of the surf prevented me from hearing the end of the sentence.
“Mother...” She said something else too, but the rising sounds of the waves, drowned out her response.
I continued to listen.
“Your mother? Hardly!” a muffled, malign laugh. “I had almost managed to forget her. Won’t you jog my memory a little?”
“Maybe you’ve forgotten...”
“If I have
