As I had but little interest in the subject, and as the problems were pronounced in a foreign tongue, I took my afternoon nap.

There was no danger of affronting the professor by such indifference to his eloquence, as he faced the blackboard, filling it with signs and figures as rapidly as possible; then expunging them to refill again and again, without a break in his explanations; talking as fast as his hand moved.
Harriot struggled several days to follow him, but found it impossible, so we gave up the chase after cubes and squares, and she devoted herself wholly to the study of the language.

These were days, for me, of perfect rest and peace.

Everything moved as if by magic, no hurry and bustle, never a cross or impatient word spoken.

As only one or two of the sisters spoke English, I could read under the trees uninterruptedly for hours.