So little Jerome Edwards, even while speaking, began to see his plan as it looked to Doctor Prescott, and not as it had hitherto looked to himself.

He began to understand and to realize the flaws in it--that he had asked more of Doctor Prescott than he would grant.

Still, he went on, and the doctor heard him through without a word.
"Who put you up to this ?" the doctor asked, when he had finished.
"Nobody, sir." "Your mother ?" "No, sir." "Did you ever hear your father propose anything like this ?" "No, sir." "Who did?
Speak the truth." "I did." "You thought out this plan yourself ?" "Yes, sir." "Look at me." Jerome, flushing with angry shame at his own simplicity as revealed to him by this other, older, superior intellect, yet defiant still at this attack upon his truth, looked the doctor straight in his keen eyes.
"Are you speaking the truth ?" "Yes, sir." Still the doctor looked at him, and Jerome would not cast his eyes down, nor, indeed, could.

He felt as if his very soul were being stretched up on tiptoe to the doctor's inspection.
"Children had better follow the wisdom of their elders," said the doctor.

He would not even deign to explain to this boy the absurdity of his scheme.
He replaced the great gold watch in his pocket.