Laughter rippled over the Story Girl 's face as shadow waves go over ripe wheat before a wind . `` Peter is a real gentleman , and he is more interesting than YOU could ever be , if you were brought up and educated for a hundred years , '' she said . `` He can hardly write , '' said Felicity . `` William the Conqueror could n't write at all , '' said the Story Girl crushingly . `` He never goes to church , and he never says his prayers , '' retorted Felicity , uncrushed . `` I do , too , '' said Peter himself , suddenly appearing through a little gap in the hedge . `` I say my prayers sometimes . '' This Peter was a slim , shapely fellow , with laughing black eyes and thick black curls . Early in the season as it was , he was barefooted . His attire consisted of a faded , gingham shirt and a scanty pair of corduroy knickerbockers ; but he wore it with such an unconscious air of purple and fine linen that he seemed to be much better dressed than he really was . `` You do n't pray very often , '' insisted Felicity . `` Well , God will be all the more likely to listen to me if I do n't pester Him all the time , '' argued Peter . This was rank heresy to Felicity , but the Story Girl looked as if she thought there might be something in it . `` You NEVER go to church , anyhow , '' continued Felicity , determined not to be argued down . `` Well , I ai n't going to church till I 've made up my mind whether I 'm going to be a Methodist or a Presbyterian . Aunt Jane was a Methodist . My mother ai n't much of anything but I mean to be something . It 's more respectable to be a Methodist or a Presbyterian , or SOMETHING , than not to be anything . When I 've settled what I 'm to be I 'm going to church same as you . '' `` That 's not the same as being BORN something , '' said Felicity loftily .
`` I think it 's a good deal better to pick your own religion XXXXX have to take it just because it was what your folks had , '' retorted Peter .
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