“I can’t bear this much longer,” said Belle. “Keep yourself quiet,” said I; “I wish to be gentle with you; and to convince you, we will skip _hntal_, and also for the present verbs of the first conjugation and proceed to the second. Belle, I will now select for you to conjugate the prettiest verb in Armenian; not only of the second, but also of all the four conjugations; that verb is _siriel_. Here is the present tense: _siriem_, _siries_, _sirè_, _siriemk_, _sirèk_, _sirien_. You observe that it runs on just in the same manner as _hntal_, save and except that the _e_ is substituted for _a_; and it will be as well to tell you that almost the only difference between the second, third and fourth conjugations, and the first, is the substituting in the present, preterite and other tenses, _e_ or _ou_ or _i_ for _a_; so you see that the Armenian verbs are by no means difficult. Come on, Belle, and say _siriem_.” Belle hesitated. “Pray oblige me, Belle, by saying _siriem_!” Belle still appeared to hesitate. “You must admit, Belle, that it is much softer than _hntam_.” “It is so,” said Belle; “and to oblige you I will say _siriem_.” “Very well indeed, Belle,” said I. “No _vartabied_, or doctor, could have pronounced it better; and now, to show you how verbs act upon pronouns in Armenian, I will say _siriem zkiez_. Please to repeat _siriem zkiez_!” “_Siriem zkiez_!” said Belle; “that last word is very hard to say.” “Sorry that you think so, Belle,” said I. “Now please to say _siriá zis_.” Belle did so. “Exceedingly well,” said I. “Now say, _yerani thè sirèir zis_.” “_Yerani thè sirèir zis_,” said Belle. “Capital!” said I; “you have now said, I love you—love me—ah! would that you would love me!”