"Oh yes, of course I do! Schaibar drew the maps, and told me where cities, and mountains, and lakes, and rivers were. I carry it all in my head."
"And you cannot read or write?" asked Gerald, with a passing recollection of "The Golden Butterfly" heroine.
"No; the Ogre said that my brain was not strong enough to learn!"
"The Ogre!" said Haskins, forgetting.
"My guardian--Major Rebb. He says that lots and lots of girls never learn to read or write."
"Liar!" thought Haskins: but he suppressed the opprobrious name, and merely remarked anxiously: "But you don't feel your brain weak?"
"Oh no! oh no! I could learn anything, I think. I have never had a day's illness in my life."
"Do you ever feel dizzy?"
"No! Why should I?"
"Do you ever get into a rage and want to strike Bellaria?"