“Ah, I see now—­it is an image of the Virgin!  But I should suppose they considered it sacrilegious to expose it to the inclemencies of the weather.”

“Look closely, Florry, there are praying to the Virgin, and imploring a cessation of the rain.  I once happened at Senor Gonzale’s during a thunder-storm, and, to my astonishment, the family immediately hung out all the paintings of saints they possessed.  I inquired the meaning, and was told in answer, that the shower would soon pass over, as they had petitioned the images to that effect.  Those women have repeated a certain number of aves, and withdrawn into the house, but ere long you will see them return, and go through the same formula.”

“It is almost incredible that they should ascribe such miraculous power to these little bits of painted canvas,” replied Florence, gazing curiously upon the picture which was suspended with the face toward her.

“No, not incredible, when you remember the quantity of relics annually exported from Rome, such as ‘chips of the Cross,’ ’bones of the Apostles,’ and ‘fragments of the Virgin’s apparel,’ which Papists conscientiously believe are endowed with magical powers sufficient to relieve various infirmities.  I doubt not that those women confidently expect a favorable response to their petition; and if such intercession could avail, it was certainly never more needed.  Absurd as the practise appears to us, a doubt of the efficacy of their prayers never crossed their minds.  They are both devout and conscientious.”

“But, Mary, such superstitious ignorance is entirely confined to the degraded and uneducated classes.  No really intelligent mind could rely on yonder picture to dispel these clouds, and win a ray of sunshine.  I think you are too hasty in supposing that the enlightened portion of the Catholic Church place such implicit confidence in images and relics.”

“What do you term the enlightened portion of the church?  Would not its prelates be considered as belonging to that class?”

“Most certainly they would, Mary:  for doubtless many of the greatest minds Europe has produced, were and are still to be found among the Roman Catholic clergy.  Yet you would not insinuate that these rely on the efficacy of such mummery as that we have just witnessed?” replied Florence, fixing her eyes inquiringly upon her cousin’s face.

“Allow me to ask one question ere I reply.  Florry, do you believe the days of miracles have passed away, or do you suppose that the laws of nature are still constantly infringed, the harmony of cause and effect destroyed, and wonderful phenomena still vouchsafed to favored Europeans?”

“Of course I do not advocate the theory that miracles occur at the present day.  It is too preposterous to advance in this enlightened age.  There are perhaps natural phenomena, only to be explained by scientific research; yet in the common acceptation of the term miracle, I unhesitatingly declared that I believe none have occurred since the days of Christ and the Apostles.”