‘What would I be doin’, going into a Protestant church?’
Patsy’s sense of his responsibility was discussed violently until Father Oliver said:
‘Now, I can’t be waiting any longer. Do you want me to baptize the child or not?’
‘It would be safer, wouldn’t it?’ said Mrs. Egan.
‘It would,’ said Father Oliver; ‘the parson mightn’t have said the words while he was pouring the water.’
And, going towards the font with the child, Father Oliver took a cup of water, but, having regard for the child’s cries, he was a little sparing with it.
‘Now don’t be sparin’ with the water, your reverence, and don’t be a mindin’ its noise; it’s twicest the quantity of holy water it’ll be wanting, and it half an hour a Protestant.’
It was at that moment Mrs. Rean appeared in the doorway, and Patsy Kivel, who
