all my fault, that I ought never to have sent my daughter to a Catholic convent.  I was obliged to shut myself up in the study and lock the door.  Then this morning, when I thought it was all over, it began again worse than ever; and then in the middle of it all, when Jane asked Cecilia how many Gods there were in the roll of bread she was eating if the priest were to bless it—­if a Papist wasn’t one who couldn’t worship God till somebody had turned Him into a biscuit—­a most injudicious observation, I said so at the time, and I must apologize to you, my dear Mrs. Barton, for repeating it, but I am really so upset that I scarcely know what I am saying.  Well, Jane had no sooner spoken than Cecilia overthrew the teacups and said she wasn’t going to stay in the house to hear her religion insulted, and without another word she walked down to the parish priest and was baptized a Catholic; nor is that all.  She returned with a scapular round her neck, a rosary about her waist, and a Pope’s medal in her hand.  I really thought Jane and Sarah would have fainted; indeed I am sure they would have fainted if Cecilia hadn’t declared that she was going to pack up her things and return at once to St. Leonards and become a nun.  Such an announcement as this was, of course, far beyond fainting, and . . . but no, I will not attempt to describe it, but I can assure you I was very anxious to get out of the house.’

‘Cecilia going to be a nun; oh, I am so glad!’ exclaimed Olive.  ’It is far the best thing she could do, for she couldn’t hope to be married.’

‘Olive, Olive!’ said Mrs. Barton, ’you shouldn’t speak so openly.  We should always consider the religious prejudices of others.  Of course, as Catholics we must be glad to hear of anyone joining the true Church, but we should remember that Milord is going to lose his daughter.’

’I assure you, my dear Mrs. Barton, I have no prejudices.  I look upon all religions as equally good and equally bad, but to be forced to live in a perpetual discussion in which teacups are broken, concerning scapulars, bacon and meal shops, and a school which, putting aside the question of expense, makes me hated in the neighbourhood, I regard as intolerable; and when I go home this evening, I shall tell Jane that the school must be put down or carried on in a less aggressive way.  I assure you I have no wish to convert the people; they are paying their rents very well now, and I think it absurd to upset them; and the fact of having received Cecilia into the Church might incline the priest very much towards us.’

‘And Cecilia will be so happy in that beautiful convent!’ suggested Mrs. Barton.

’C’est le genie du Catholicisme de nous debarrasser des filles laides.’

And upon this expression of goodwill towards the Church of Rome Cecilia’s future life was discussed with much amiability.  Mrs. Barton said she would make a sweet little nun; Olive declared that she would certainly go to St. Leonard’s to see her ‘professed’; and Milord’s description of Lady Sarah’s and Lady Jane’s ill-humour was considered very amusing, and just as he was about to recount some new incident—­one that had escaped his memory till then—­the door opened and the servant announced Dr. Reed.