'Public or secondary education?
'Public, said Paul. His school had been rather sensitive on this subject.
'What was your standard when you left school?
'Well, I don't quite know. I don't think we had standards.
The Schoolmaster marked him down as 'Memory defective' on a form and went out. Presently he returned with a book.
'You must do your best with that for the next four weeks, he said. 'I'll try and get you into one of the morning classes. You won't find it difficult, if you can read fairly easily. You see, it begins there, he said helpfillly, showing Paul the first page.
It was an English Grammar published in 1872.
'A syllable is a single sound made by one simple effort of the voice, Paul read.
'Thank you, he said; 'I'm sure I shall find it useful.
'You can change it after four weeks if you can't get on with it, said the Schoolmaster. 'But I should stick to it, if you can.