They rocked in silence for a while and then Philip asked in a polite tone in which there was still a note of hope,
"Do you know Bible stories any better than you do this kind, Unker Wichard?" He was willing to give his uncle another chance.
But that humiliated gentleman was forced to acknowledge that he knew even less about Bible stories than the kind he had been relating.
"Then I guess I'll go to sleep," his nephew decided, with unflattering renunciation.
But sleep was hard to woo to-night.
"I do shut 'em tight and tight and tight. But they fly open." Then after a further trial, "Unker Wichard, I can't never go to sleep without kissing mama."
"Philip, suppose you tell me a Bible story," suggested Mr. De Jarnette, hurriedly. "What do you know?"
Philip reflected. A story of his telling would keep his uncle there just the same.
"I know 'Moses in the Bulwushes.'"
"That will do nicely. Wait a minute. Let me turn down the light. Now I'll rock you while you tell it. Go on."