Barty's satisfaction at his mother's unexpected comment took the form
of kicking his sister, heavily. Tishy, who sang in the chapel choir,
and was at this time inclined to regard herself as a pillar of the
Church, returned the kick with a viciousness that indicated a hostile
point of view, and said loftily:

"But to think they'd ask him! The English are very lax. Don't you
think so, Father?"

Dr. Mangan laughed apologetically.

"Well, it's a wonder that a party of sheep would let a poor goat into
their fold at all!" he said, in a voice that asked for forgiveness for
the erring goat. "I suppose the young ladies got him in a corner, and
'twas hard for him to refuse. You'd hardly blame him for that!"

Father Greer looked bleakly down his nose and said nothing.

Barty scowled, considering that his hero stood in no need of apology.
Dr. Mangan continued his endeavour to save the situation.

"But there's no understanding of Protestants!" he resumed,
good-humouredly; "I met an old fellow on the train th' other day, old
William Henderson of Glen Brickeen, and he was telling me of a row he
had with his clergyman, the Reverend Wilson. 'Oh,' says he, 'I gave up
going to church on the head of it!' 'And isn't that a great sin for
you,' says I, 'to give up going to church?' 'Oh,' says he, 'I explain
that to God every Saturday. He understands well what Mr. Wilson done
to me, and why I wouldn't go to church as long as he was in it.'