part.

"If the Professor attempts to account for the mutual action of separate
atoms," she said, "I defy him to do it, without assuming the existence
of a continuous material medium in space. And this point of view being
accepted--follow me here! what is the result? In plain words," cried
Mrs. Gallilee, rising excitedly to her feet, "we dispense with the idea
of atoms!"

The friend looked infinitely relieved by the prospect of dispensing with
atoms.

"Now observe!" Mrs. Gallilee proceeded. "In connection with this part
of the subject, I shall wait to see if the Professor adopts Thomson's
theory. You are acquainted with Thomson's theory? No? Let me put it
briefly. Mere heterogeneity, together with gravitation, is sufficient
to explain all the apparently discordant laws of molecular action. You
understand? Very well. If the Professor passes over Thomson, _then,_ I
rise in the body of the Hall, and take my stand--follow me again!--on
these grounds."

While Mrs. Gallilee's grounds were being laid out for the benefit of
her friend, the coachman took the carriage back to the stables; the
maid went downstairs to tea; and Carmina joined Miss Minerva in the
schoolroom--all three being protected from discovery, by Mrs. Gallilee's
rehearsal of her performance in the Comedy of Atoms.

The Monday morning brought with it news from Rome--serious news which
confirmed Miss Minerva's misgivings.

Carmina received a letter, bearing the Italian postmark, but not
addressed to her in Teresa's handwriting. She looked to the signature
before she began to read. Her correspondent was the old priest--Father
Patrizio. He wrote in these words:

"My dear child,--Our good Teresa leaves us to-day, on her journey to
London. She has impatiently submitted to the legal ceremonies, rendered
necessary by her husband having died without making a will. He hardly
left anything in the way of money, after payment of his burial expenses,
and his few little debts. What is of far greater importance--he lived,
and died, a good Christian. I was with him in his last moments. Offer
your prayers, my dear, for the repose of his soul.

"Teresa left me, declaring her purpose of travelling night and day, so
as to reach you the sooner.

"In her headlong haste, she has not even waited to look over her
husband's papers; but has taken the case containing them to England--to
be examined at leisure, in your beloved company. Strong as this good
creature is, I believ