it."

"And what is my phase?" asked Miss Brown.

"Oh, you are an out-and-out sinner, and do just what you please, in
spite of priest or prayer-book," said Christine, with a laugh in which
all the ladies joined.

"Well," said Miss Brown, "I do not think that I am worse than the rest
of you."

"Not in the least," replied Christine. "We all have some form of
religion, or none at all, as it accords with our peculiar tastes."

"And you mean to say that having a religion or not is a mere matter
of taste?" asked Miss Winthrop.

"Yes, I should say it was, and practically that it _is_. You ladies, and
nearly all that I have met, seem to choose a style of religion suited to
your tastes; and the tastes of many incline them to have no religion at
all."

"Why, Miss Ludolph!" exclaimed Miss Winthrop, her cheeks glowing with
honest dissent and zeal for the truth; "our religion is taken from the
Bible. Do you not believe in the Bible?"

"No! not in the sense in which you ask the question; nor you either,
my charming Miss Winthrop."

"Indeed I do, every word of it," said the orthodox young lady, hotly.