insisted on retaining her three callers and
making them mutually acquainted.

With the ice thus broken, Mrs. Hawley-Crowles found it easy to take
the contemplated plunge. Therefore she smiled triumphantly when, a
week later, Monsignor Lafelle alighted at her own door, in response to
a summons on matters pertaining to the Church.

"But, Madam," replied the holy man, after carefully listening to her
announcement, "I can only refer the matter to the Bishop. I am not
connected with this diocese. I am traveling almost constantly. But I
shall be most pleased to lay it before him, with my endorsement."

"As you say, Monsignor," sweetly responded the gracious Mrs.
Hawley-Crowles. "I sought your advice because I had met you through my
dear friend, Madam Beaubien."

"It has been a great pleasure to know you and to be of service to you,
Madam," said Monsignor, rising to depart. "But," he added with a
tender smile, "a pleasure that would be enhanced were you to become
one of us."

Mrs. Hawley-Crowles knew that at last the time had come. "A moment,
please, Monsignor," she said, her heart beating quickly. "There is
another matter. Please be seated. It concerns my ward, the young girl
whom you met at Madam Beaubien's."

"Ah, indeed!" said the man, resuming his seat. "A beautiful girl."

"Yes!" returned Mrs. Hawley-Crowles enthusiastically. "And just
budding into still more beautiful womanhood." She stopped and
reflected a moment. Then she threw herself precipitately into her
topic, as if she feared further delay would result in the evaporation
of her boldness. "Monsignor, it is, as you say, unfortunate that I
profess no religious convictions; and yet, as I have told you, I find
that as the years pass I lean ever more strongly toward your Church.
Now you will pardon me when I say that I am sure it is the avowed
intention to make America dominantly Catholic that brings you to this
country to work toward that end--is it not so?"

The man's handsome face lighted up pleasantly, but he did not reply.
The woman went on without waiting.

"Now, Monsignor, I am going to be terribly frank; and if you
disapprove of what I suggest, we will both forget that the matter was
ever under discussion. To begin with, I heartily endorse your
missionary efforts in this godless country of ours. Nothing but the
strong arm of the Catholic Church, it seems to me, can check our
headlong plunge into ruin. But, Monsignor, you do not always work
where yo