"Earth? What do you mean, dirt?"
"Some—and some water, and some hills, and rivers, and cities, and mountains."
"But you can see all them things."
"Well, it tells you more than you can see."
"And what's t'other?"
"Arithmetic is about figures. What are you asking me so many questions for?—didn't you ever go to school?"
"Never did in all my life, not an hour. Now go on about the figures."
"Well, all about them—how to add and multiply, and subtract and divide, and fractions."
"Never heard of one of 'em," said Tode, with a little sigh. "What be they all for?"
"Why so you can buy things and sell them, and keep accounts, and everything."