“How was it?” said Rollo.
“Why, you had lost your hat. I knew where it was, for I saw it out under a tree, where you had left it. And I heard you walking about and asking every body if they knew where your hat was. You asked them quietly and very properly, but still I heard; and the difficulty which you were in attracted my attention, and confused me in my adding.”
“Adding?” said Lucy, in an interrogative tone; that is, in the tone of asking a question.
“Yes,” said her uncle. “I was adding a long column of figures; and this difficulty about Rollo’s hat took place when I had nearly got through. So I lost my reckoning just as Rollo was coming into my room, to ask me where his hat was. I told him that it was out under the tree; and then I had to begin once more, and do my work all over again.”
“But, father,” said Rollo, “you said that I did not speak to you at all.”
“True,” replied his father, “and you did not. You were coming to speak to me, and I knew what you were coming for. But the interruption was occasioned before, by the inquiries which you were making out in the entries, which I heard, although you did not speak very loud.”
“Well, sir,” said Rollo, “I am sorry that I interrupted you. I did not know it.”
“O, it is not of much consequence,” said his father; “I only mentioned the case to help explain to you the theory of interruption.”
“The what, sir?” said Rollo.
“The theory of interruption; that is, the nature of it.”