He did not speak English very well, but acquired it fast.

He always spoke slowly, and with a very pure articulation.
His voice was clear, high-pitched, and thrilling--I have no other word for it.
On the following day I took him down to Tredennis.

The boy was interested and excited, and asked many questions of a very unsophisticated kind.
"Why do people stare at me so ?" he said, turning round from the window of the carriage, in Bristol, where he stood devouring the crowd with hungry eyes.

I could not explain to him.

He thought it was because of his foreign look, and was much disgusted.