Innocent did not like being called a "poor child"--and she gave a
little gesture of annoyance.

"Please do not pity me," she said, with a touch of hauteur--"I do
not wish that! I know it is difficult for me to explain things to
you as I see them, because I have never been taught religion from
a Church. I have read about the Virgin and Christ and the Saints
and all those pretty legends in the books that belonged to the
Sieur Amadis--but he lived three hundred years ago and he was a
Roman Catholic, as all those French noblemen were at that time."

Mr. Medwin stared at her in blank bewilderment. Who was the Sieur
Amadis? She went on, heedless of his perplexity.

"Dad believed in a God who governed all things rightly,--I have
heard him say that God managed the farm and made it what it is.
But he never spoke much about it--and he hated the Church--"

The reverend gentleman interrupted her with a grave uplifted hand.

"I know!" he sighed--"Ah yes, I know! A dreadful thing!--a
shocking attitude of mind!' I fear he was not saved!"

She looked straightly at him.

"I don't see what you mean," she said--"He was quite a good man--"

"Are you sure of that?" and Mr. Medwin fixed his shallow brown
eyes searchingly upon her. "Our affections are often very
deceptive--"