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IX

n the following Sunday, when the Vicar was making
Ohis preparations to go into the drawing-room for his
nap—all the actions of his life were conducted with ceremo-
ny—and Mrs. Carey was about to go upstairs, Philip asked:
‘What shall I do if I’m not allowed to play?’
‘Can’t you sit still for once and be quiet?’
‘I can’t sit still till tea-time.’
Mr. Carey looked out of the window, but it was cold and
raw, and he could not suggest that Philip should go into the
garden.
‘I know what you can do. You can learn by heart the col-
lect for the day.’
He took the prayer-book which was used for prayers
from the harmonium, and turned the pages till he came to
the place he wanted.
‘It’s not a long one. If you can say it without a mistake
when I come in to tea you shall have the top of my egg.’
Mrs. Carey drew up Philip’s chair to the dining-room ta-
ble—they had bought him a high chair by now—and placed
the book in front of him.
‘The devil finds work for idle hands to do,’ said Mr. Car-
ey.
He put some more coals on the fire so that there should
be a cheerful blaze when he came in to tea, and went into