Part 3 (1/2)

The one bright facet of the loomy crisis was the very obvious truth that Robert was the most extraordinary child that ever lived

”But when on earth did you get at the _Encyclopaedia_, Robert?” his mother exclaimed, completely at a loss

”It was before you came in fro had stopped hurting me a bit”

”But when I came in nurse said it had only just happened!”

”Sho much _she_ knew!” said Robert, with conte hurt you now?” Edward Henry inquired

”A bit That's why I can't go to sleep, of course”

”Well, let's have a look at it” Edward Henry attempted jollity

”Mother's wrapped it all up in boracic wool”

The bed-clothes were dran and the leg gradually revealed And the sight of the little soft leg, so fragile and defenceless, really did touch Edward Henry It made him feeltiht of the red wound hurt him Still, it was a beautifully clean wound, and it was not a large wound

”It's a clean wound,” he observed judiciously In spite of himself he could not keep a certain flippant harsh quality out of his tone

”Well, I've naturally washed it with carbolic,” Nellie returned sharply

He illogically resented this sharpness

”Of course he was bitten through his stocking?”

”Of course,” said Nellie, re-enveloping the wound hastily, as though Edward Henry was not worthy to regard it

”Well, then, by the ti the animal's teeth couldn't be dirty Everyone knows that”

Nellie shut her lips

”Were you teasing Carlo?” Edward Henry demanded curtly of his son

”I don't know”

Whenever anybody asked that child for a piece of information he almost invariably replied, ”I don't know”

”How--you don't know? Youor not!” Edward Henry was nettled

The renewed spectacle of his oound had predisposed Robert to feel a great and tearful sye shapes and to increase ically in area, and beads appeared in the corners of his large eyes

”I--I was only ,” he blubbered and then sobbed

Edward Henry did his best to save his dignity