"So very much, mamma," the young girl went on, with a sort of
inscrutable submissiveness. I wondered at it; it offered so strange
a contrast to the mocking freedom of her tone the night before; but
while I wondered I was careful not to let my perplexity take
precedence of my good manners.

"I don't know what you ladies may have found at European firesides,"
I said, "but there can be very little doubt what you have left
there."

Mrs. Church got up, to acknowledge my compliment. "We have spent
some charming hours. And that reminds me that we have just now such
an occasion in prospect. We are to call upon some Genevese friends--
the family of the Pasteur Galopin. They are to go with us to the old
library at the Hotel de Ville, where there are some very interesting
documents of the period of the Reformation; we are promised a glimpse
of some manuscripts of poor Servetus, the antagonist and victim, you
know, of Calvin. Here, of course, one can only speak of Calvin under
one's breath, but some day, when we are more private," and Mrs.
Church looked round the room, "I will give you my view of him. I
think it has a touch of originality. Aurora is familiar with, are
you not, my daughter, familiar with my view of Calvin?"

"Yes, mamma," said Aurora, with docility, while the two ladies went
to prepare for their visit to the Pasteur Galopin.



CHAPTER VI.