Mrs. Adams had been all this time begging and praying the ladies to sit down, a favour which she at
last obtained. The little boy to whom the accident had happened, still keeping his place by the fire, was
chid by his mother for not being more mannerly: but Lady Booby took his part, and, commending his
beauty, told the parson he was his very picture. She then, seeing a book in his hand, asked If he could
read?Yes, cried Adams, a little Latin, madam: he is just got into Qu Genus.A fig for quere genius!
answered she; let me hear him read a little English.Lege, Dick, lege, said Adams: but the boy made
no answer, till he saw the parson knit his brows, and then cried, I dont understand you, father. How,
boy! says Adams; what doth lego make in the imperative mood? Legito, doth it not?Yes, answered
Dick.And what besides? says the father. Lege, quoth the son, after some hesitation. A good boy,
says the father: and now, child, what is the English of lego?To which the boy, after long puzzling,
answered, he could not tell. How! cries Adams, in a passion;what, hath the water washed away
your learning? Why, what is Latin for the English verb read? Consider before you speak. The child
considered some time, and then the parson cried twice or thrice, Le, Le. Dick answered, Lego.Very
well;and then what is the English, says the parson, of the verb lego?To read, cried Dick.Very
well, said the parson; a good boy: you can do well if you will take pains.I assure your ladyship
he is not much above eight years old, and is out of his Propria quæ Maribus already.Come, Dick, read
to her ladyship; which she again desiring, in order to give the beau time and opportunity with Fanny,
Dick began as in the following chapter.