So I thought "Now for the revelation!" But he only said--
"Joseph, put that down this instant--you have not been confirmed! And at any rate the Communion in both kinds is the privilege of the ordained clergy!"
Of course, I thought he had simply gone moony with the whack he had got when I pulled him down from the dyke, as the Hielant Donalds did the mailed knights at the Red Harlaw, as I had read in the history book.
But in this I was mistaken.
Mr. Ablethorpe got a bit better when he had assured himself that I had not touched the contents of his leather case. He even tried to snib it again, but the catch had been broken in the fall, and the best he could do was to fasten it up with a bit of twine I lent him out of my pocket.
It is a strange thing about grown-ups who set up for knowing
