'Let me just give you a word of advice.

It'll carry you through most of them.
Remember you are very young, and I shall soon be very old.' He stopped and surveyed her.

His kind humorous eyes blinked through their blanched lashes.

Lucy dropped her fork and looked back at him with smiling expectancy.
'_Learn Persian!_' said the old man in an urgent whisper--'and get the dictionary by heart!' Lucy still looked--wondering.
'I finished it this morning,' said the Ambassador, in her ear.

'To-morrow I shall begin it again.