"Is that what brought you to church to-day? You seldom darken the door."
"Sure! What else should I come fer? I'm not like you, Bill Flanders, wearin' out me shoes paddin' to church every Sunday. I kin be jist as good a Christian an' stay at home. I kin read me Bible an' say me prayers there."
"I'm not denying that, Bill, but the question is, Do ye? I reckon ye never open yer Bible or say yer prayers either fer that matter. If you were in the habit of doin' so you never would hev signed that petition to the Bishop."
"Well, I'm not alone in that. There's Farrington, a church member an' a communicant, who headed the list, an' if he----"
"Hold, right there, Bill. Farrington never signed that paper."
"Yes, he did."
"But, I say, he didn't. He promised to do so, but jist after he sent it away he made a fuss an' said that he had fergotten to do it."
"Ye don't say so!" and Bill's eyes opened wide with surprise. "But are ye sure?"
"Sartin. I had it from Tom Fletcher himself, who feels rather sore about it. It is well known that Farrington wanted the parson removed on the plea of old age, but didn't want that clause in about Billy's death. The Fletchers insisted, however, an' in it went."
"The devil! Well, it's queer, I do declare."