object? I am very careless sometimes, but that is because I am still only a boy, and in future I mean to be much more serious and attentive."
"That is not the question, Antiochus; you are too serious and attentive already!" said Paul. "At your age you should be heedless and merry. Learn and prepare yourself for life, certainly, but be a boy too."
"And am I not a boy?" protested Antiochus; "I do play, only you don't happen to see me just when I am playing! Besides, why should I play if I don't feel inclined? I have lots of amusements: I enjoy ringing the church bells and I feel as if I was a bird up in the tower. And haven't I had an amusing time to-day? I enjoyed carrying the box and climbing up ever so high amongst the rocks, and I got there before you, although you were riding! I enjoyed coming home again … and to-day I enjoyed … I was happy," and the boy's eyes sought the ground as he added, "when you drove the devils out of the body of Nina Masia."
184
