when I went to your father from the mission."

Carmen blushed deeply at the rebuke which lay in his words, and, as if
to atone, said quickly:

"Oh, forgive me! I am sure I would gladly be like you all if I only
could. But I cannot always be calm and serene, as every one else here
is; and I fear our dear Sister Agatha, with all her endeavors, will
succeed as little in changing me, as you do in trying to produce the
same degree of health in every one, even though you be the wise and
learned Doctor Jonathan Fricke. Each bird sings after its own fashion,
and although all are different, yet none are bad. I cannot believe
every one is culpable who does not pass through life calmly and
sedately, as we endeavor to do. It surely cannot be wrong for people
to laugh, and dance! Dance!" and she laughed outright, so that her
pearly teeth gleamed from between the rosy lips. "It must be
enchanting to skip round and round to the sound of merry music!" She
had allowed herself to be carried away by enthusiasm, and spoke louder
than was consistent with Moravian decorum, or suitable to the place
where she was. Her eyes sparkled, and the dainty little foot which
peeped forth from under her dress seemed altogether suited to trip with
fairy fleetness through the merry mazes of the dance.

One glance, however, at her companion recalled her to the present. Her
eyes sank, the little foot was hastily withdrawn, and she wrapped more
closely about her the dark shawl which had slipped from her shoulders.

"But the time! the time!" she stammered. "It is getting later and
later while we are chatting, and Sister Agatha will have good cause to
be vexed with me."