‘Oh, won’t he; I know better than that!’
‘No; you be a good boy, and sit still, and he won’t do you any harm; he is coming to look at the tickets.’
The railway official having departed, the lad began to look out of the window, enjoying the way in which the train rattled along through tunnels and over rivers, through fields and villages and towns.
‘Now tell me,’ said the actress, ‘did you ever hear of God?’
‘No; where did he live?’
‘Nor of Christ?’
‘Oh yes, I’ve often heard mother say “Oh, Christ!” when father came home drunk.’
‘I’m afraid you’re a bit of a heathen.’
‘Oh yes,’ said the boy, with pride; ‘people often call me that.’
After that the conversation dropped; the actress had much else to think of, and the boy fell asleep.