"Oh, nothing; but--hem! hem!" replied Titmouse, sinking his voice to a whisper--"a touch of--religion--eh?--would not be so much amiss, just now! I feel--uncommon inclined that way, somehow, 'pon my soul!" "Religion's all very well, Titty, dear!--for them that has much to be thankful for; but devil take me! what have either you or me to be"---- "But, Huck--how do you know but we might _get_ something to be thankful for, by praying?--I've often heard of great things in that line--but--_do_ come in with me, Huck!" Huckaback stood for a moment irresolute, twirling about his cane, and looking rather distastefully towards the dingy building. "It won't answer," said he, faintly. Titmouse drew him nearer; but he suddenly started back.--"No! oh, 'tis only a meeting-house, Tit! Curse Dissenters, how I hate 'em! Isn't your precious governor one in that line? Give _me_ a regular-like, respectable church, with a proper steeple, and parson, and prayers, and an organ, and all that!" Titmouse secretly acknowledged the force of these observations; and the intelligent and piously disposed couple, with perhaps a just, but certainly a somewhat sudden regard for orthodoxy, were not long before they had found their way into a church where evening service was being performed. They ascended the gallery stair; and seeing no reason to be ashamed of being at church, down they both went, with loud clattering steps and a bold air, into the very central seat (which happened to be vacant) in the front of the gallery. Titmouse paid a most exemplary attention to what was going on, kneeling, sitting, and standing with exact propriety, in the proper places; joining audibly in the responses, and keeping his eyes pretty steadily on the prayer-book, which he found lying there. He even rebuked Huckaback for whispering (during one of the most solemn parts of the service) that "there was an uncommon pretty gal in the next pew!"--He thought that the clergyman was a remarkable fine preacher, and said some things that he _must_ have meant for him, Titmouse, in particular! "Curse me, Hucky!" said he, heatedly, as soon as they had quitted the church, and were fairly in the street--"Curse me if--if--ever I felt so comfortable-like in my mind before, as I do now--see if I don't go again next Sunday!" "Lord, Tit, you don't _really_ mean--eh?--it's deuced dull work!" "Hang me if I don't, though! and if anything should come of it--if I _do_ but get the estate--(I wonder, now, where _Mr. Gammon_ goes to church. I should like to know!--I'd go there regularly)--But if I _do_ get the thing--you see if I don't"---- "Ah, I don't know; it's not much use praying for money, Tit; I've tried it myself, once or twice, but it didn't answer!" "I'll take my oath you was staring at the gals all the while, Hucky!" "Ah, Titty!" exclaimed Huckaback, and winked his eye, and put the tip of his forefinger to the tip of his nose, and laughed.