Were a profane heretic, or an accursed Jew, or a misguided heathen,
to set these up to himself as ensamples, it might be excused," said
the sister, scornfully; "but what has the soldier, who has enlisted
under the banner of the blessed St. Ignatius, to do with imaginations
alike fantastic and full of a sounding frenzy? Was it for the glory of
God that these men died, or because they coveted the praise of the
world, and gratified a ferocious instinct of their nature?"

"I deny not the superior nobility of the principle of my order,"
returned the Knight, "inasmuch as it excludes selfishness, save as it
is of necessity, connected with the aspiration for salvation; still
can I not be mistaken in the admiration of a sentiment which lifts man
above all baseness, and prompts him to achieve exploits that shall
send his name reverberating through the halls of princes and the
cabins of laborers, to be warbled by the lips of beauty at the
festival, or shouted in front of the charging host. Yet, mistake me
not, Celestina, but believe, that while my heart loves not honor less,
my understanding renders a deeper homage to the principle of Ignatius.
But whither hath my wandering talk strayed?" he added, checking
himself. "I did desire, after delivering thy letter, to say, that it
is my purpose to follow hard on the heels of Master Arundel, and also
to caution thee to continue to keep carefully concealed, during my
absence, the sacred crucifix, and whatever else might betray us to our
enemies. Forgive me that I give this advice, but I see that thou hast
relaxed thy watchfulness over the missal."

"The warning is unnecessary. Nightly is the blessed cross, whereon the
hands of his holiness have been laid, deposited with my missal and
rosary in our place of concealment. And as for Neebin, fear not to
trust her. She is as jealous of her treasure as could be thou or I.
But leave me not until you receive tidings from the heretics. These
ill-omened reports I like not. They may, indeed, be idle, yet it is
only, prudence to wait."

"I care not for them, yet, to pleasure thee, would I do more. I will
remain, according to thy wish, and, meanwhile, to-night, seek
Sassacus, who soon returns to his distant tribe."

"Be it so, then," said the lady. "Neebin." she called to the Indian
girl, who was in the adjoining apartment, and who, at the summons,
came running up; "give me now the book, and I will tell thee a story
about one of the pictures."