Catholics? If I were in a difficulty and could not tell right from
wrong, I should turn Catholic, and come to you as my priest, Mrs
Hopgood.'

'Then you would do, not what you thought right yourself, but what I
thought right. The worth of the right to you is that it is your
right, and that you arrive at it in your own way. Besides, you might
not have time to consult anybody. Were you never compelled to settle
promptly a case of this kind?'

'I remember once at school, when the mathematical master was out of
the class-room, a boy named Carpenter ran up to the blackboard and
wrote "Carrots" on it. That was the master's nickname, for he was
red-haired. Scarcely was the word finished, when Carpenter heard him
coming along the passage. There was just time partially to rub out
some of the big letters, but CAR remained, and Carpenter was standing
at the board when "Carrots" came in. He was an excitable man, and he
knew very well what the boys called him.

'"What have you been writing on the board, sir?"

'"Carpenter, sir."

'The master examined the board. The upper half of the second R was
plainly perceptible, but it might possibly have been a P. He turned
round, looked steadily at Carpenter for a moment, and then looked at
us. Carpenter was no favourite, but not a soul spoke.

'"Go to your place, sir."