The parson rubbed his chin.
"Was it done in thoughtlessness—in irreverent folly?"
"Oh, no, sir! I did it in sober earnest. I thought the child was going to die."
"Of course," said the Vicar, "lay baptism is valid, even if administered by a Dissenter; but—it is very unusual, very much so."
"I didn't do all that about the cross," observed Iver, "because the cat jumped and upset the bowl."
"Of course, of course. That belongs to the reception into the church, and you couldn't do that as it was—"
"In Bideabout's basin," said Iver.
"You are certain the water touched the child?"
"Soused her," responded the hostess. "She caught a tremendous cold out o' it, and has been runnin' at the nose ever since."
"I think the very best thing we can do," said the Vicar, "is that I should baptize the child conditionally, in church,—conditionally mind."