He smiled as though he did not believe it.
“Do you want me to say it to you?”
“You can’t.”
“Shall I try? You take the book.”
He took up the book again, and I began to recite the verse. I had it almost perfect.
“What! you know it?”
“Not quite, but next time I could say it without a mistake, I believe.”
“How did you learn it?”
“I listened while your mother read it, but I listened attentively without looking about to see what was going on round about me.”
He reddened, and turned away his eyes.