"Dogs."
"And?..."
"A shepherd."
"If they thought the sheep were quite safe, what did they do?"
"The dog slept while the shepherd played his flute in the distance with the other shepherds."
Little by little Arthur had the entire fable pictured in his mind's eye. I explained every detail, as well as I was able. When he was thoroughly interested we went over the lines together and at the end of half an hour he had mastered it.
"Oh, how pleased mamma will be!" he cried.
When his mother came out she seemed displeased that we were together. She thought that we had been playing, but Arthur did not give her time to say a word.
"I know it!" he cried. "Remi has taught it to me."
Mrs. Milligan looked at me in surprise, but before she could say a word Arthur had commenced to recite the fable. I looked at Mrs. Milligan: her beautiful face broke into a smile; then I thought I saw tears in her eyes, but she bent her head quickly over her son and put her arms about him. I was not sure if she was crying.