"How old are you, boy?" he asked.
"Fourteen," said Philip.
There was another silence. Then Uncle Joseph spoke again.
"You should be old enough to understand now. Your friend's mother was right, Phil. Would you like to hear the story?"
"Yes, please," said Philip.
Uncle Joseph turned round.
"Why?" he asked curiously.
Philip replied with characteristic frankness.
"Because," he said, "it might make it easier for me to keep away from all women, like what you told me to do, if I knew the reason why I ought to."