“Yes. He was rather silly, really.” Shan’t’s usual summary, this.
“What did the preacher say?”
Shan’t hesitated—what did he say? “He said I must love God—and not eat any more apples.”
“Oh!” said Marcus, not recognizing in this brief summary the story of the Garden of Eden. He didn’t believe “that aunt” would either.
“D’you think you’ll go to Heaven?” asked Shan’t cheerfully.
Marcus humbly answered that he hoped he might if he were very good.
“What will God call you?”
This Marcus didn’t know; couldn’t say; had never thought.
“‘Mis-ter Maitland’—or ‘Marcus’—which would you like best?”
Marcus thought—his Christian name was nicest—just as Shan’t said it.