"'No complaints, sir,' says I; 'everything's O.K. But I've asked leave to speak to you, 'cos I wanted to tell you, sir, as 'ow I intend to change my religion.'
"I saw I'd got old Bill set for once, an' no mistake.
"'Change your religion?' 'e says. 'Stuff and nonsense! Have you ever heard of such a thing, sergeant-major? What's your religion at present?'
"'Church of England, sir; but I wish to be put down in future as Wesleyan.'
"'Well, I'm——! Who on earth put that notion into your head, my man? Has the padre offended you, or what?'
"'Oh no, sir, not at all; on the contrary,
Mr. Morrison's always been very kind to me. No, it ain't that at all, sir; but I don't believe in the Church of England no more, that's all.'
"'You don't believe any more...? What don't you believe? What do you know about beliefs and dogmas?'
"'Why, sir, lots o' things,' I says. 'F'r instance, there's the bishops; I don't 'old with their way of livin', sir.'
"'By Jove, sergeant-major, do you hear this damned idiot? He doesn't hold with the bishops' way of living! May I ask, Brommit, where you have had occasion to observe the ways of bishops?'