90 Fohuny listens to Mr. Dowt Like.

to teach you so long ago? he only
gave his shoulders an impatient little
shake, and said to himself, ‘Johnny’s
not a bigger boy ’nuff yet; no he
isn’t.’

May used to hear him saying this
over and over again as if he wanted
to make himself feel that it was
quite true; and sometimes she very
nearly got out: ‘A dig boy enough,
you mean, Johnny,’ but she always
stopped short, because she thought
that while he kept repeating this he
would not really try even if he agreed
to begin.

So she waited and waited still; for
she said to herself: ‘I could not do
as mother would if she meant to