"You couldn't," I said; "why?"
"Please, sir, grandmamma died last night!"
"Oh! did she? Well, well—I hope this won't happen again."
This put me in mind of the boy who, being reproached for his many mistakes in his translation, pleaded:
"Please, sir, it isn't my fault. Papa will help me."
An English schoolboy never tells stories—never.
A mother once brought her little son to the head-master of a great public school.
"I trust my son will do honor to the school," she said; "he is a good, industrious, clever, and trustworthy boy. He never told a story in his life."
"Oh! madam, boys never do," replied the head-master.
The lady left, somewhat indignant. Did the remark amount to her statement being disbelieved, or to an affirmation that her boy was no better than other boys?