the ladies rustled in their silks and tissues, and it was a good
half-hour ere they rustled in again, with importance and awe on their
countenances.

'To tell you the truth, Mr. Fairford, the cause of our desire to delay
you is--there is a religious gentleman in this house at present'--

'A most excellent person indeed'--said the sister Angelica.

'An anointed of his Master!' echoed Seraphina,--'and we should be glad
that, for conscience' sake, you would hold some discourse with him
before your departure.'

'Oho!' thought Fairford, 'the murder is out--here is a design of
conversion! I must not affront the good ladies, but I shall soon send
off the priest, I think.' He then answered aloud, 'that he should be
happy to converse with any friend of theirs--that in religious matters
he had the greatest respect for every modification of Christianity,
though, he must say, his belief was made up to that in which he had
been educated; nevertheless, if his seeing the religious person they
recommended could in the least show his respect'--

'It is not quite that,' said Sister Seraphina, 'although I am sure the
day is too short to hear him--Father Buonaventure, I mean--speak upon
the concerns of our souls; but'--

'Come, come, Sister Seraphina,' said the younger, 'it is needless
to talk so much about it. His--his Eminence--I mean Father
Buonaventure--will himself explain what he wants this gentleman to
know.'

'His Eminence!' said Fairford, surprised--'is this gentleman so high in
the Catholic Church? The title is given only to Cardinals, I think.'

'He is not a Cardinal as yet,' answered Seraphina; 'but I assure you,
Mr. Fairford, he is as high in rank as he is eminently endowed with good
gifts, and'--

'Come away,' said Sister Angelica. 'Holy Virgin, how you do talk! What
has Mr. Fairford to do with Father Buonaventure's rank? Only, sir, you
will remember that the Father has been always accustomed to be treated
with the most profound deference; indeed'--

'Come away, sister,' said Sister Seraphina, in her turn; 'who talks now,
I pray you? Mr. Fairford will know how to comport himself.'

'And we had best both leave the room,' said the younger lady, 'for here
his Eminence comes.'

She lowered her voice to a whisper as she pronounced the last words; and
as Fairford was about to reply, by assuring her that any friend of hers
should be treated by him with all the ceremony he could expect, she
imposed silence on him, by