It was here that, without any particular provocation, Robert Carlton's resolution suddenly failed him, so that he hugged and kissed the child, in a sudden access of uncontrollable emotion. This, however, was as suddenly suppressed. Georgie had wriggled from his knee; but instead of running away (as the other feared for one breathless moment), he continued looking about him as before, bored a little, but nothing more.
"What are you buildin', I say?" he now inquired.
"A church."
"What's a church?"
Carlton came straight to his feet.
"Do you never go to one?" he asked; but his tone was nearly all remorse.
"No, I never."
"Then have you never heard of God?"
And now the tone was his most determined one.
"Yes," said Georgie, subdued but not frightened.