talk on any subject, whether they were acquainted, with it or not.
"I don't think there is much spirituality in any modern religion," she
went on. "I surmise it's dead. Science has got the upper hand of
theology and means to keep it. People are not content now-a-days with
being told `you must believe so and so.' They want a reason for
believing. You're not a Romanist, are you?" she added suddenly.

"I--oh no," said the stranger with a faint smile.

"I'm glad of that, for I was just going to say that the Church of Rome
has done more to retard rational and spiritual progress than any other.
I don't believe in the voice of man barring the way to inquiry. God
made man, and, as far as I have ever been able to learn, He made them
all on one pattern. The offices and dignities they give themselves
won't make them one whit greater or more important in His eyes."

"You are a democrat, I see," said the beautiful woman, looking gravely
and scrutinisingly at the eager flushed face, with its ruffled damp
curls, and quick restless eyes.

"Well," said Mrs Jefferson, "I don't exactly know what I am. My views
are liberal on most subjects. I've travelled a good bit, and I think
that enlarges the mind. I've just run over to have a look at England.
Our people are laughing at her pretty well. The Gladstone party have
made a lovely hash of affairs haven't they? But perhaps you don't care
for politics, being foreign."

"Oh, yes, I do," answered her strange companion. "And I am specially
interested in English politics," she added. "Like yourself I was
curious to see a nation who seemed determined to court their own shame,
and to deify the being whose career is signally marked by obloquy and
disaster."

"His day is pretty well over, I fancy," said Mrs Jefferson, eagerly
scenting an opportunity for a brilliant display of political knowledge.
"That Irish business has settled him. They call him the greatest
statesman of the age! A man at dinner last night was lauding him up to
the skies. There was quite a battle about him. We showed, however,
that, putting his talking powers aside, he really is no statesman--only
a grasping selfish old bungler, who cares nothing for his country except
it keeps him in office, and has done nothing really great or good during
his whole career. They make a fuss about the Education Act, but the
credit of passing that belongs to Foster. As for the Disestablishment
of the Irish Church, that is a