"I'll be glad to do it, but you are too late for this service."
"Dat all right—we don't vant no service—ve vant it done all by hisself."
"But the Church does not baptize its children that way. They are done in the congregation before the people."
"But, Padre, me an' Emmiline goot Cat'liques. Ve no Engleese. Only no priest in de troop—and Emmiline go clean crazy if ve no get it done. You know, Padre, ve loss our dear petite babees. Ve no vant to loss dis wan too."
"I see," said Mr. Evans. "You want me to christen the child privately."
"Yees, Padre."
"Well, bring him over to my quarters at three o'clock and I will do it then."
Bateese, while expressing his thanks for the Chaplain's kindness, still appeared nervous and stood twisting his hat as before.
"One more ting, Padre, Emmiline alvays goot Cat'lique. Alvays go to church, alvays count her beads at night. Vell she see de curé before she leave Kebec, and he say—if she ever have child again, an' leeve vere dere is no priest—she must burn holy candles and have holy vater—an' den some minister of some oder church could baptize de boy all de sam."
"And have you got the candles and the holy water?" the Chaplain asked with a smile.