In reality he could not learn that.

He could not, because the claims of his own soul were more binding on him than those claims his father and his teacher made upon him.

Those claims were in opposition, and he was in direct conflict with his education.

He was nine years old; he was a child; but he knew his own soul, it was precious to him, he guarded it as the eyelid guards the eye, and without the key of love he let no one into his soul.