JA

talking to him about art. When challenged by them to give an opinion, or to express his admiration for some picture, he would remain almost impolitely silent, and would then make amends by furnishing (if he could) some fact or other about the gallery in which the picture was hung, or the date at which it had been painted.

two shy peals

rough simplicity of a child who will play with some curio from the cabinet no more carefully than if it were a penny toy.