And, after I had said that, tears filled my eyes.
She smiled again, but that time so kindly that I felt certain the milk-can had no part in it, and to my greatest delight I heard her say:
"I suppose I must make an exception for once, and give you your lesson at a time convenient to you."
With some hesitation I asked for her terms, secretly fearing that it might not be possible after all.
But I was soon relieved. After looking at me once more very keenly, she named a price that even I considered ridiculously small.
When I repeated this conversation to the cook, she looked very grave. After a long silence she asked me whether I thought that English would be a difficult language to learn.
I replied that I did not know, since I had never heard anyone talk English.