Just then a hand was laid upon my shoulder, and I felt Shock’s lips almost touch my ear as he whispered softly:
“I say—I want to say my prayers too.”
“Well,” I said sternly, “pray.”
There was again that silence that seemed so painful, and then a low hoarse voice at my side said slowly:
“I can’t. I ’most forgets how.”
“Shock,” I cried, as I caught at his hands, which closed tightly and clung to mine; and for the first time it seemed to come to me that this poor half-wild boy was only different to myself in that he had been left neglected to make his way in life almost as he pleased, and that in spite of his wilful ways and half-savage animal habits it was more the want of teaching than his fault.
I seemed to feel brighter and more cheerful as we sat
together soon after, discussing whether we should light the candle again, and all at once Shock exclaimed:
“I say.”