people.

Joan and Mary whom I've always thought of as just wrapped up in the
good works of their dear good selves, really rose in their wrath
and scorched me with the fieriest opposition. I could not have
believed they had in them to say as much in all their lives as they
said to me when I announced my intention. Nor had I any idea they
knew so many English clergymen. I believe that to gratify them I
have interviewed half the Anglican ministry. Even a Bishop was
invoked to demonstrate my apostacy. Nancy, too, wrote furious
letters. She was not outraged so much theologically, but her sense
of social fitness was shattered.

My darling old mother was the only person who took my resolve
calmly. "As long as you don't try to convert me," she said, "and
don't leave incense burning about the house, well--you're old
enough to know your own mind." She was so amusing while Joan and
Mary were marshaling arguments against me. She used to sit playing
"Miss Milligan" with a cynical smile, and said, when it was all
over and in spite of everyone I had been received, that she had
really enjoyed Patience for the first time, as Joan and Mary were
too busy to prevent her from cheating.

How are you and dear old Alan getting on? Of course you can read
him this letter. I've not written to him because I fancy he won't
be very much interested. Forgive me that I did not take you into my
confidence beforehand, but I feared a controversy with a real
historian about the continuity of the Anglican church.

My love to you both at Oxford.

Your affectionate

Maud Ross.

"Great scott!" Michael exclaimed, as he finished the letter. "Alan!
could you ever in your wildest dreams have imagined that Mrs. Ross, the
most inveterate Whig and Roundhead and Orange bigot, at least whenever
she used to argue with me, would have gone over?"

"What do you mean?" Alan asked, sinking slowly to earth from his
Platonic _ovpavos_. "Gone over where?"

"To Rome--become a Roman Catholic."

"Who?" gasped Alan, staggered now more than Michael. "Mrs. Ross--Aunt
Maud?"

"It's the most extraordinary thing I ever heard," said Michael.
"She--and Kenneth," he added rather maliciously, seeing that Alan's
Britannic prejudice was violently aroused. "I'll read you her letter."

Plato was shut up for the evening before Michael was halfway t