After painful efforts, resulting in sounds suggestive of anything rather than a place of worship, I would excuse myself.
"I really fear it is impossible," I would say.

"You see, for years I have always talked with my mouth, as it were; I never knew a man could talk with his stomach.

I doubt if it is not too late now for me to learn." By spending hours in dark corners, and practising in silent streets, to the terror of chance passers-by, I came at last to pronounce this word correctly.

My teacher was delighted with me, and until I came to Germany I was pleased with myself.

In Germany I found that nobody understood what I meant by it.