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upon produced by Lady Templedale, and secretly intrusted to the ardent Saint, who forthwith retired with it to her own room, which she did not forsake again until every line had been eagerly devoured. The effect which so eloquent a vindication of her own impassioned convictions and sentiments was calculated to produce upon Cécile's fervent and impulsive spirit, we need not attempt to define. Suffice it to say, that though she was more than usually silent and abstracted during dinner, there was a fevered lustre in her eyes, which all must have remarked, and which, at all events, as we shall presently have to show, did not escape the ever watchful attention of Lady Templedale.

But here, gentle reader, we should warn you that if you are not a theologian, you would do very well to pass over the two following chapters; and indeed, if you are a theologian, you would perhaps do better still to avoid them, as none of the parties whom we have introduced to you, were qualified, after all, to descant so freely upon such serious and complicated matter. As for ourselves, being merely narrators of the occurrences of Redburn Hall, we deem it a

duty to suppress nought of what strictly appertains to our tale, leaving to each and all the entire and undisputed credit or discredit of their respective opinions and assertions.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE FORBIDDEN SUBJECT INTRODUCED.

THE family prayers were read at an earlier hour than usual, that Lady Helen might assist at them ere she retired; the remainder of the party then returned to the library, where they entered into general conversation with the master of the house. Soon observing, however, that her uncle was on the eve of resuming his interrupted slumbers, Cécile slipped quietly away to the adjoining print-room, that she might again devote herself to a book, which she had been previously reading with the intensest interest; but her seclusion was not so unmolested as she had hoped. Ere ten minutes had elapsed, it was summarily invaded by Lady

Templedale, Constance, and St. Edmunds, in a body.

"Oh! here is the runaway," cried the former; "I thought that we should find her pouring over some dusty volume. We have a question. to ask of your Saintship."

"What may that be?" inquired the unsuspecting Cécile.

"Simply, whether or not, you believe in this winking Virgin, that the foreign papers are so full of?"

"Indeed, Lady Templedale, I cannot say : I am not sufficiently aware of the circumstances," answered the Saint, calmly resuming her book.

"This won't do, my dear," rejoined Lady Templedale, taking forcible possession of the volume. "I give you fair warning: we are come here to have what Edward calls a wrangle—and a wrangle we will have.”

"You are most welcome," said Cécile, laughing; "but you must allow me to retire, as I could only be in the way."

"Don't pretend to misunderstand us, you little hypocrite; you know very well that you are already retained on the other side. Stop

her, Lord St. Edmunds; don't let her presume to run away. Ah! Now, that we have caught you, you will be pleased to sit down again immediately; and mind that you don't stir a step, or we shall have to tie you to your chair."

"But this is actual persecution, my dear Lady Templedale."

"And pray, why not, my dear Saint Cecilia? We, Protestants, have a long arrear to work out; and it is high time that we should have a little inquisition of our own."

"Ah! but Lady Templedale," urged Cécile, more seriously, "I do beseech you to remember that I am under a solemn promise to Lady Helen not to discuss religious questions in her house. Am I not, dearest Conny?"

"Not that I am aware of," replied her laughing cousin; "the only engagement, I believe, is, that you should not attempt to convert any of us."

"Any of you, perhaps," resumed the determined Lady Templedale; "but no provision. whatever was made for me, or for Lord St. Edmunds. The fact is, my dear, that there are certain questions, respecting your faith,

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