did not wish to irritate the priest, neither
would she tell an untruth.

"Answer me, child," continued the priest with severity.

"Father," replied Amine, "I have appealed to God alone--the God of the
Christians--the God of the whole universe!"

"Who believes not everything, believes nothing, young woman. I thought
as much! I saw thee smile with scorn just now. Why didst thou smile?"

"At my own thoughts, good father."

"Say rather at the true faith shown by others."

Amine made no answer.

"Thou art still an unbeliever and a heretic. Beware, young woman!--
beware!"

"Beware of what, good father? Why should I beware? Are there not
millions in these climes more unbelieving and more heretic, perhaps,
than I? How many have you converted to your faith? What trouble, what
toil, what dangers have you not undergone to propagate that creed; and
why do you succeed so ill? Shall I tell you, father? It is because the
people have already had a creed of their own--a creed taught to them
from their infancy, and acknowledged by all who live about them. Am I
not in the same position? I was brought up in another creed; and can
you expect that that can be dismissed, and the prejudices of early years
at once eradicated? I have thought much of what you have told me--have
felt that much is true--that the tenets of your creed are godlike: is
not that much? and yet you are not content. You would have blind
acknowledgment, blind obedience: I were then an unworthy convert. We
shall soon be in port: then teach me, and convince me, if you will. I
am ready to examine and confess, but on conviction only. Have patience,
good father, and the time may come when I _may_ feel what now I _do
not_--that yon bit of painted wood is a thing to bow down to and adore."

Notwithstanding this taunt at the close of this speech, there was so
much truth in the observations of Amine, that Father Mathias felt their
power. As the wife of a Catholic he had been accustomed to view Amine
as one who had backslided from the Church of Rome--not as one who had
been brought up in another creed. He now recalled to mind that she had
never yet been received into the Church, for Father Seysen had not
considered her as in a proper state to be admitted, and had deferred her
baptism until he was satisfied of her full belief.

"You speak boldly; but you speak as you feel, my child," replied Father
Mathias, after a pause. "We will, when we arrive at Goa