Was it delicacy on Juli's part or pure forgetfulness?
When he tried to greet the relatives who called on him, bringing their children, he found to his great surprise that he could not articulate a word.

Vainly he tried, but no sound could he utter.

He placed his hands on his throat, shook his head, but without effect.

When he tried to laugh, his lips trembled convulsively and the only noise produced was a hoarse wheeze like the blowing of bellows.
The women gazed at him in consternation.

"He's dumb, he's dumb!" they cried in astonishment, raising at once a literal pandemonium..