There was another pause.
"Hold down your book," said the master.
"Yes, hold down your book," said Josiah Crawford. "What do ye cover yer face for? There's nuthin' to be ashamed of. Now try again."
Nathaniel lowered the book and revealed the singular struggle that was going on in his mind. He had to spell out the words to himself, and in doing so his face was full of the most distressing grimaces. He unconsciously lifted his eyebrows, squinted his eyes, and drew his mouth hither and thither.
"From the cen-t-e-r, center; center, all round to the sea,
I am lord of the f-o-w-l and-the-brute."
The last line came to a sudden conclusion, and was followed by a very long pause.
"Go on," said Andrew Crawford, the master.
"Yes, go on," said Josiah. "At the rate you're goin' now you won't get through by candle-light."
Nathaniel lifted his eyebrows and uttered a curiously exciting—