The Other Professor regarded him with some anxiety. “The smaller animal ought to go to bed at once,” he said with an air of authority.
“Why at once?” said the Professor.
“Because he can't go at twice,” said the Other Professor.
The Professor gently clapped his hands. “Isn't he wonderful!” he said to Sylvie. “Nobody else could have thought of the reason, so quick. Why, of course he ca'n't go at twice! It would hurt him to be divided.”
This remark woke up Bruno, suddenly and completely. “I don't want to be divided,” he said decisively.
“It does very well on a diagram,” said the Other Professor. “I could show it you in a minute, only the chalk's a little blunt.”
“Take care!” Sylvie anxiously exclaimed, as he began, rather clumsily, to point it. “You'll cut your finger off, if you hold the knife so!”
“If oo cuts it off, will oo give it to me, please? Bruno thoughtfully added.
“It's like this,” said the Other Professor, hastily drawing a long line upon the black board, and marking the letters 'A,' 'B,' at the two ends, and 'C' in the middle: “let me explain it to you. If AB were to be divided into two parts at C—”
“It would be drownded,” Bruno pronounced confidently.