The children sat down.
'We know you are very, very learned,' said Cyril, 'and we have got a charm, and we want you to read the name on it, because it isn't in Latin or Greek, or Hebrew, or any of the languages WE know--' 'A thorough knowledge of even those languages is a very fair foundation on which to build an education,' said the gentleman politely.
'Oh!' said Cyril blushing, 'but we only know them to look at, except Latin--and I'm only in Caesar with that.' The gentleman took off his spectacles and laughed.

His laugh sounded rusty, Cyril thought, as though it wasn't often used.
'Of course!' he said.

'I'm sure I beg your pardon.

I think I must have been in a dream.

You are the children who live downstairs, are you not?
Yes.