"Teach me to read."
Lorand looked at her in amazement. Topándy, looking over his shoulder, asked her:
"Tell me, what would be the use of teaching you to read?"
The girl clasped her hands to her bosom:
"I should like to learn to pray."
"What? To pray? And what would you pray for? Is there anything that you cannot do without?"
"There is."
"What can it be?"
"That is what I should like to know by praying."
"And you do not know yourself what it is?"