The next morning, Levina announced to the Countess, in a tone of gratified spite, that two persons were in the hall--an old man, unknown to her, and the young Jew, Delecresse. He had come for his sister. Belasez received the news of her recall at first with a look of blank dismay, and then with a shower of passionate tears. Her deep attachment to her Christian friends was most manifest. She kissed the hand of the Countess and Margaret, warmly embraced Doucebelle, and then looked round as if something were wanting still. "What is it, my maid?" kindly asked the Countess. "Father Bruno!" faltered Belasez through her tears. "Oh, I must say farewell to Father Bruno!" The Countess looked astonished, for she knew not that Bruno and Belasez had ever met. A few words from Doucebelle explained. Still the Countess was extremely dissatisfied. "My maid," she said, "thy father may think I have not kept my word. I ought to have told Father Bruno. I never thought of it, when he first came. I am very sorry. Has he talked with thee on matters of religion at all?" "Yes." Belasez explained no further. "Dear, dear!" said the Countess. "He meant well, I suppose. And of course it is better thy soul should be saved. But I wish he had less zeal and more discretion." "Lady," said Belasez, pausing for an instant, "if ever I enter the kingdom of the Blessed One above, I think I shall owe it to the Bishop of Lincoln and to Father Bruno." "That is well, no doubt," responded the Countess, in a very doubtful tone. "Oh dear! what did make Father Bruno think of coming up here?" As Belasez passed down towards the hall, Father Bruno himself met her on the stairs. "Whither goest thou, my child?" he asked in some surprise. "I am going--away." Belasez's tears choked her voice. "To thy father's house?" She bowed. "Without Christ?" "No, Father, not without Him," sobbed the girl. "Nor,--if you will grant it to me at this moment--without baptism." "Dost thou believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?" "I do." Bruno hesitated a minute, while an expression of deep pain flitted over his face. "I cannot do it, Belasez." "O Father! do you reject me?" "God forbid, my child! I do not reject thee in any wise: I only reject myself. Belasez, long years ago, Licorice thy mother did me a cruel wrong. If I baptise thee, I shall feel it to be my revenge on her. And I have no right thus to defile the snow-white robe of thy baptism because my hands are not clean, nor to mingle the revenge of earth with the innocence of Heaven. Wait a moment."