The Teacher looked from Aaron to Little Crotchet. "You must be joking," he remarked.
"Oh, no, he isn't," protested Little Crotchet. "I know he can talk with the animals. He has promised to teach me, but I always forget it when I go to the Swamp; there are so many other things to think about."
"Would you teach me?" Mr. Hudspeth asked. His face was solemn, and yet there was doubt in the tone of his voice.
Aaron shook his head. "Too old," he explained. "Too old, and know too much."
"It's another case of having a child's faith," suggested the Teacher.
"Most, but not quite," answered Aaron. "It is like this: The why must be very big, or you must be touched."
The Teacher pondered over this reply for some moments, and then said: "There must be some real reason why I should desire to learn the language of animals. Is that it?"
"Most, but not quite," Aaron responded. "You must have the sure-enough feeling."
"I see. But what is it to be touched? What does that mean?"
"You must be touched by the people who live next door to the world."