“Well, why should they care to go? And they wouldn't be welcome—”
Charlie burst into laughter. “You poor kid!” he exclaimed. “What have you been doing up there at St. Matthew's, anyhow?”
“I'm the sexton's assistant,” said Samuel gravely.
“Yes,” said the other. “Evidently a sexton's assistant doesn't see much of the congregation.”
“I wish you'd explain,” remarked the boy after a pause.
“I hardly know where to begin,” replied the other. “They've such a choice collection of crooks up there. Did you ever notice a little pot-bellied fellow with mutton-chop whiskers—looks as if he was eating persimmons all the time?”
“You mean Mr. Hickman?”
“Yes, that's the chap. He's one of the pillars of the church, isn't he?”
“I suppose so,” said Samuel. “He's one of the vestrymen.”
“And did you ever hear of Henry Hickman before?”