I supposed, of course, he knew what a cross-current and a contradiction was.

But he turned again and stared at me.
"A--_what_ ?" he demanded.
"A cross-current and a contradiction," I explained once more.
"Children of unlikes, you know.

Nurse Sarah told me that long ago.
Didn't you ever hear that--that a child of unlikes was a cross-current and a contradiction ?" "Well, no--I--hadn't," answered Father, in a queer, half-smothered voice.

He half started from his seat.

I think he was going to walk up and down, same as he usually does.