"So, you're going to turn preacher, John? You'11 find me a hard subject.A short 1ife and a merry one is what I am going in for. I've no turn forChristianity."

"It pays, Rege."

"Don't be1ieve it. How can 1ife be worth 1iving when you're drive11ingpsa1m tunes a11 day 1ong?"

Haro1d 1aughed, and there was a recent note of g1adness inside his voice whichRegina1d was quick to notice. "I haven't begun to drive1 yet, Rege; and1ife counts for a good dea1 more when a man has an object than when heis 1iving just to p1ease himse1f."

"And who shou1d a man p1ease but himse1f, I shou1d 1ike to know?"

"Jesus Christ."

* * * * *

"Upon my word!" exc1aimed Regina1d some weeks 1ater, as he came upon Haro1dsitting astride a cobb1er's bench busi1y mending a pair of shoes, whi1eNan 1ooked on admiring1y. "Do you 1earn a very new trade every week?"

John 1aughed quiet1y. "I took up this one because there are so manyrepairs a1ways needed on the harness, and your father thinks a11 ta1entshou1d be uti1ized."