quares of blue and red."

"Much better," Michael agreed.

A ledge nailed beneath the window supported two brass candlesticks and a
crucifix. The reredos was an Arundel print of the Last Supper and on
corner brackets on either side were statues of the Immaculate Conception
and Our Lady of Victories. A miniature thurible hung on a nail and on
another nail was a holy-water stoup which Michael at first thought was
intended for soap. In front of the altar was a prie-dieu stacked with
books of devotion. There were also blessed palms, very dusty, and a
small sanctuary lamp suspended from the ceiling. Referring to this, Mr.
Prout explained that really it came from the Turkish Exhibition at
Earl's Court, but that he thought it would do as he had carefully
exorcized it according to the use of Sarum.

"Shall we say Vespers?" suggested Mr. Prout. "You know--the Small Office
of the Blessed Virgin. It won't take long. We can say Compline _too_, if
you like."

"Just as you like," said Michael.

"You're sure you don't mind the door being left open? Because, you see,
we can't both get in otherwise. In fact, I have to kneel sideways when
I'm alone."

"Won't your landlady think it rather rum?" Michael asked.

"Good gracious, no. Why, when we have Vespers of St. Charles the Martyr,
I have fellows kneeling all the way down the stairs, you know--members
of the White Rose League. Bournemouth and South of England Branch."

Michael was handed a thin sky-blue book labelled _Office of the B.V.M._

"Latin or English?" queried Mr. Prout.

"Whichever you like," said Michael.

"Well, Latin, if you don't mind. I'm anxious to learn Latin, and I find
this is good practice."

"It doesn't look very good Latin," said Michael doubtfully.

"Doesn't it?" said Mr. Prout. "It ought to. It's the right version."

"I expect this is Hellenistic--I mean Romanistic--Latin," said Michael,
who was proud of his momentary superiority in knowledge. "Greek Test is
Hellenistic Greek."

"Do you know Greek?" asked Mr. Prout.

"A little."

Mr. Prout sighed.

When the Office was concluded, Michael promised he would attend a
rehearsal of next Sunday's ceremony and, if he felt at ease, the Solemn
High Mass itself. Mr. Prout, before Michael went away, lent him a book
called Ritual Reason Why, and advised him to buy The Catholic Religion
at One Shilling, and meanwhile to practise direct Invocation of the
Saints.

At home Michael applied himself with ardour