Mrs. Peterkin was afraid it would
be like the Tower of Babel, and hoped it was all right.
Agamemnon brought forward another difficulty. Of course they
ought to have foreign teachers, who spoke only their native
languages. But, in this case, how could they engage them to come,
or explain to them about the carryall, or arrange the proposed
hours? He did not understand how anybody ever began with a
foreigner, because he could not even tell him what he wanted.
Elizabeth Eliza thought a great deal might be done by signs and
pantomime.
Solomon John and the little boys began to show how it might be
done. Elizabeth Eliza explained how "langues " meant both
"languages" and "tongues," and they could point to their tongues.
For practice, the little boys represented the foreign teachers
talking in their different languages, and Agamemnon and Solomon
John went to invite them to come out, and teach the family by a
series of signs.
Mr. Peterkin thought their success was admirable, and that they
might almost go abroad without any study of the languages, and
trust to explaining themselves by signs. Still, as the bridge was not
yet made, it might be as well to wait and cultivate the languages.
Mrs. Peterkin was afraid the foreign teachers might imagine they
were invited out to lunch. Solomon John had constantly pointed to
his mouth as he opened it and shut it, putting out his tongue; and
it looked a great deal more as if he were inviting them to eat, than
asking them to teach.
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