As he sealed the envelope he said: "Read a book! Why, she's never read a book in her life." "Oh, go along!" said Mrs.Morel, cross with the exaggeration, "It's true, mother--she hasn't," he cried, jumping up and taking his old position on the hearthrug.

"She's never read a book in her life." "'Er's like me," chimed in Morel.

"'Er canna see what there is i' books, ter sit borin' your nose in 'em for, nor more can I." "But you shouldn't say these things," said Mrs.Morel to her son.
"But it's true, mother--she CAN'T read.

What did you give her ?" "Well, I gave her a little thing of Annie Swan's.

Nobody wants to read dry stuff on Sunday afternoon." "Well, I'll bet she didn't read ten lines of it." "You are mistaken," said his mother.
All the time Lily sat miserably on the sofa.