"Jehosaphat!" cried Rowlatt. "I suppose now you'd have no
difficulty in reciting the Thirty-nine Articles."

Paul puckered his forehead in thought. "D'yo' mean," he asked after
a pause, "the Thirty-nine Articles o' Religion, as is in th'
Prayerbuk? I ha' tried to read 'em, but couldno' understand 'em
reet."

Rowlatt, who had not expected his facetious query to be so answered,
stopped his drawing for a moment. "What in the name of goodness
attracted you to the Thirty-nine Articles?"

"I wanted to learn about things," said Paul.

The young man looked at him and smiled. "Self-education is a jolly
good thing," said he. "Learn all you can, and you'll be a famous
fellow one of these days. But you must cultivate a sense of humour."

Paul was about to seek enlightenment as to this counsel when Barney
Bill appeared, cool and refreshed, from the inn door, and lifted a
cheery voice. "Let's be getting along, sonny."

Rowlatt held up a detaining hand. "Just a couple of minutes, if you
can spare them. I've nearly finished."

"All right, sir," said Barney Bill, limping across the yard. "Taking
a picture of him?"

The artist nodded. Barney Bill looked over his shoulder. "By Gosh!"
he cried in admiration. "By Gosh!"