There was no response in them when Hyacinth spoke, and no intelligence.

From time to time his lips moved slightly as if they were forming words, but he said nothing.

After awhile Hyacinth gave up the attempt to tell his story, and sat silent for so long that in the end he was startled when his father spoke.
'Hyacinth, my son, I have somewhat to say unto you.' Before Hyacinth could reply to him he continued: 'And the young man answered and said unto him, "Say on." And the old man lifted up his voice and said unto his son, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."' He spoke as if he were reading out of a book some narrative from the Bible.

Hyacinth realized suddenly that the communication which was to be made to him had been rehearsed by his father alone, again and again, that statement, question and reply, would follow each other in due sequence from the same lips.

He felt that his father was still rehearsing, and had forgotten the real presence of his son.