Doxology and he did not make the suggestion with
any particular reverence.

But Colin was of an exploring mind and he
knew nothing about the Doxology.

"What is that?" he inquired.

"Dickon can sing it for thee, I'll warrant," replied
Ben Weatherstaff.

Dickon answered with his all-perceiving animal
charmer's smile.

"They sing it i' church," he said. "Mother
says she believes th' skylarks sings it when they
gets up i' th' mornin'."

"If she says that, it must be a nice song," Colin
answered. " I've never been in a church myself.
I was always too ill. Sing it, Dickon. I want
to hear it."

Dickon was quite simple and unaffected about it.
He understood what Colin felt better than Colin
did himself. He understood by a sort of instinct
so natural that he did not know it was understanding.
He pulled off his cap and looked round still
smiling.

"Tha' must take off tha' cap," he said to Colin,
"an' so mun tha', Ben -- an' tha' mun stand up,
tha' knows."

Colin took off his cap and the sun shone on and
warmed his thick hair as he watched Dickon intently.
Ben Weatherstaff scrambled up from his

[[343]]

p342 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p343w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p344

v?