The Altar Steps by Compton MacKenzie
page 63 of 461 (13%)
page 63 of 461 (13%)
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"That's fine language for a sexton," commented Cass Dale. "I'd be
ashamed to swear like that, I would. You wouldn't hear my father swear like that. My father's a local preacher." "So's mine," said Mark. "Is he? Where to?" "London." "A minister, is he?" "No, he's a priest." "Does he kiss the Pope's toe? My gosh, if the Pope asked me to kiss his toe, I'd soon tell him to kiss something else, I would." "My father doesn't kiss the Pope's toe," said Mark. "I reckon he does then," Cass replied. "Passon Trehawke don't though. Passon Trehawke's some fine old chap. My father said he'd lev me go church of a morning sometimes if I'd a mind. My father belongs to come himself to the Harvest Home, but my granfa never came to church at all so long as he was alive. 'Time enough when I'm dead for that' he used to say. He was a big man down to the Chapel, my granfa was. Mostly when he did preach the maids would start screeching, so I've heard tell. But he were too old for preaching when I knawed 'un." "My grandfather is the priest here," said Mark. |
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