He knew when to talk and when not to.

But Wilbur Cowan, wishing motor cars were in build more like linotypes, fearlessly opened the hood.
"My shining stars!" murmured Sharon at this his first view of his car's more intimate devices.

"She's got innards like a human, ain't she ?" He instantly beheld a vision of the man in the front of the almanac whose envelope is neatly drawn back to reveal his complicated structure in behalf of the zodiacal symbols.

"It's downright gruesome," he added.

But his guest was viewing the neat complexities of metal with real pleasure and with what seemed to the car's owner a practiced and knowing eye.
"Understand 'em ?" demanded Sharon.
The boy hesitated.