“Do you want to read?” he asked. “I have between forty and fifty thousand books in my library. I think it possible that you might find one or two which would interest you.”
The Wonder lifted his hand as though to ask for silence. For a minute, perhaps, no one spoke. All waited, expectant; Challis and Lewes with intent eyes fixed on the detached expression of the child’s face, Ellen Mary with bent head. It was a strange, yet very logical question that came at last:
“What should I learn out of all them books?” asked the Wonder. He did not look at Challis as he spoke.
IV
Challis drew a deep breath and looked at Lewes.
“A difficult question, that, Lewes,” he said.
Lewes lifted his eyebrows and pulled at his fair moustache. “If you take the question literally,” he muttered.
“You might learn—the essential part ... of all the knowledge that has been ... discovered by mankind,” said Challis. He phrased his sentence carefully, as though he were afraid of being trapped.
“Should I learn what I am?” asked the Wonder.