Wagtail and Paul looked at him, and then at each other, with a most
absurd expression--between fear and jest--between crying and laughing
but gave him no answer.
"Are you, my lads, such blockheads as to be ashamed to acknowledge that
you say your prayers?"
"Ah," aid Gelid, "why, ah no--not--that is"
"Oh, you Catholics are all so bigoted,--I suppose we should cross
ourselves, eh?" said Wagtail hastily.
"I am a Catholic, Master Wagtail," rejoined Bang--"better that than
nothing. Before sunrise, we may both have proved the truth of our
creeds, if you have one; but if you mean it as a taunt, Wagtail, it does
discredit to your judgment to select such a moment, to say nothing of
your heart. However, you cannot make me angry with you, Pepperpot, you
little Creole wasp, do as you will." A slight smile here curled Aaron's
lip for an instant, although he immediately resumed the solemn tone in
which he had previously spoken.--"But I had hoped that two such old
friends, as you both have been to me, would not altogether have made up
their minds in cold blood, if advertised of their danger, to run the
chance of dying like dogs in a ditch, without one preparatory thought
towards that tremendous Being, before whom we may all stand before
morning."
"Murder!" quoth Wagtail, fairly frightened; "are you really serious,
Aaron? I did not--would not, for the world, hurt your feelings in
earnest, my dear; why do you desire so earnestly to know whether or not
I ever say my prayers?"
"Oh, don't bother, man," rejoined Bang, resuming his usual friendly
tone; "you had better say boldly that you do not, without any
roundaboutation.
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