gran would not want to be told of the absolute evil -as she would regard it- of what id been up to , a few venial sins were all she wanted to hear of , minor transgressions which would go to show what an inconsiderate little sod her grand-daughter was ; petty iniquities would give her the excuse to have a go at me , grumble until she was happy and turn her pique to pleasure ; anything truly serious , those sins she would call mortal , would cause her pain rather than pleasure , and so my lies kept the old woman happy , which was how i excused them .