He pointed to a small boy near the bottom, who having decided that the wood was too far off to be of any annoyance to him, individually, was occupying his leisure playing noughts and crosses against himself. Vexed and bewildered, but feeling it necessary to add something to the inventory, he hazarded blackberries. This was a mistake; the poet had not mentioned blackberries.
“Of course, Klobstock would think of something to eat,” commented the Professor, who prided himself on his ready wit. This raised a laugh against Klobstock, and pleased the Professor.
“You,” continued he, pointing to a boy in the middle; “what else was there in this wood besides trees and bushes?”
“Please, sir, there was a torrent there.”
“Quite right; and what did the torrent do?”
“Please, sir, it gurgled.”
“No; no. Streams gurgle, torrents—?”
“Roar, sir.”
“It roared. And what made it roar?”
This was a poser. One boy—he was not our prize intellect, I admit—suggested the girl. To help us the Professor put his question in another form: