The ruler came down with a crash, and aroused the sleeper.

Longears also started erect, looked around, and then laid down again.
"Ah!" murmured Verty, who woke like a bird upon the boughs, "what was that, _ma mere_ ?" "There's his outlandish lingo--Delaware or Shawnee, I have no doubt!" said Mr.Roundjacket.
Verty rose erect.
"Was I asleep?
he said, smiling.
"I think you were." "This place makes me go to sleep," said the boy.

"How dull it is!" "Dull! do you call this office dull?
No, sir, as long as I am here this place is sprightly and even poetical." "Anan ?" said Verty.
"Which means, in Iroquois or some barbarous language, that you don't understand," replied Mr.Roundjacket.

"Listen, then, young man, I mean that the divine spirit of poesy dwells here--that nothing, therefore, is dull or wearisome about this mansion--that all is lively and inspiring.

Trust me, my dear young friend, it was copying that miserable deed which put you to sleep, and I can easily understand how that happened.