'I can’t imagine.'
'Well, he pulled him by the sleeve when he took out the—the thing he puts in your mouth, and said kind of hoarse, "Doctor, did you ever tell a lie?" Wasn’t that funny?'
Miss Ralston did not answer. She was thinking that David must have been turning over some problem in his mind, to say so much to a stranger.
'Did you give him my message?' she asked finally.
'Yes’m! I told him about rehearsing his piece for Washington’s Birthday.' Bennie paused.
'Well?'
'He acted so funny. He turned over to the wall, and cried and cried without any noise.'
'The poor boy! He’ll be dreadfully disappointed not to take his part in the exercises.'
Bennie shook his head.
'That isn’t for what he cries,' he said oracularly.