se me!" came laughingly from my other hand, in Miss Newton's voice.
"The waters are not quite so smooth as they were, and I thought I had
better be at hand to pour a little oil if necessary. Mr Raymond, I am
afraid you are getting worldly. Is that not the proper word?"

"It is the proper word for an improper thing," said Mr Raymond. "On
what evidence do you rest your accusation, Miss Theresa?"

"On the fact that you have twice in one week made your appearance in
Mrs Desborough's rooms, which are the very pink of worldliness."

"Have I come without reason?"

"You have not given it me," said the young lady, laughing. "You cannot
always come to tell one of the guests that his (or her) relations have
been taken prisoner."

I looked up so suddenly that Mr Raymond answered my eyes before he
replied to Miss Newton's words.

"No, Miss Courtenay, I did not come with ill news. I suppose a man may
have two reasons at different times for the same action?"

"Where is our handsome friend of the dreadful name?" asked Miss Newton.

"Mr Hebblethwaite? He told me he could not be here this evening."

"That man will have to change his name before anybody will marry him,"
said Miss Newton.

"Then, if he takes my advice, he will continue in single blessedness,"
was Mr Raymond's answer.

"Now, why?"

"Do you not think it would be preferable to marrying a woman whose
regard for you was limited by the alphabet?"

"Mr Raymond, you and Miss Courtenay do say such odd things! Is that
because you are religious people?"

Oh, what a strange feeling came over me when Miss Newton said that!
What made her count me a "religious person"? Am I one? I should not
have dared to say it. I should like to be so; I am afraid to go
further. To reckon myself one would be to sign my name as a queen, and
I am not sufficiently sure of my royal blood to do it.

But what had I ever said to Miss Newton that she should entertain such
an idea? Mr Raymond glanced at me with a brotherly sort of smile,
which I wished from my heart that I deserved, (for all he is a Whig!)
and was afraid I did not. Then he said,--

"Religious people, I believe, are often very odd things in the eyes of
irreligious people. Do you count yourself among the latter class, Miss
Theresa?"

"Oh, I don't make any profession," said she. "I have but one life, and
I want to enjoy it."

"That is exactly my position," said Mr Raymond, smiling.

"Now, what do you mean?" de