And the greatest wonder of all was its gravity.

He drew back a little, in this vast surprise, and shaded his forehead with one hand, that he might think.
"I can hardly help laughing at myself," he said, "for being so stupid and so slow of mind.

But a coincidence like this is enough to excuse anything.

If I could be sure that you are not jesting with me, seeing how my whole mind is taken up with this book--" "Sir, I can feel for your surprise," answered Frank, handing back the book, for which the other had made a sign, "because my own is even greater; for I never have been read aloud before--by anybody else I mean, of course; and the sound is very strange, and highly gratifying--at least, when done as you do it.

But to prove my claim to the authorship of the little work which you so kindly esteem, I will show you the letter I spoke of." The single-minded poet produced from near his heart a very large letter with much sealing-wax endorsed, and the fervent admirer of his genius read: "DEAR SIR,--In answer to your favour to hand, we beg to state that your poetical work the Harmodiad, published by our firm, begins to move.
Following the instructions in your last, we have already disposed of more than fifty copies.