"But how strange!" cried Laura--"when there are so few Catholics about here. And no one _hates_ Catholics now. One may just--despise them." She looked from mother to son in bewilderment. Not only Hubert's speech, but his whole manner had broadened and coarsened since his mother's arrival. "Well, if there isn't mony, they make a deal o' talk," said Polly--"onyways sence Mr. Helbeck came to t' hall.--Mother, I'll take Miss Fountain oopstairs, to get her hat off." During all the banter of her son and daughter Mrs. Mason had sat in a disdainful silence, turning her strange eyes--the eyes of a fanatic, in a singularly shrewd and capable face--now on Laura, now on her children. Laura looked at her again, irresolute whether to go or stay. Then an impulse seized her which astonished herself. For it was an impulse of liking, an impulse of kinship; and as she quickly crossed the room to Mrs. Mason's side, she said in a pretty pleading voice: "But you see, Cousin Elizabeth, I'm not a Catholic--and papa wasn't a Catholic. And I couldn't help Mrs. Fountain going back to her old religion--you shouldn't visit it on me!" Mrs. Mason looked up. "Why art tha not at church on t' Lord's day?" The question came stern and quick. Laura wavered, then drew herself up. "Because I'm not your sort either. I don't believe in your church, or your ministers. Father didn't, and I'm like him." Her voice had grown thick, and she was quite pale. The old woman stared at her. "Then yo're nobbut yan o' the heathen!" she said with slow precision. "I dare say!" cried Laura, half laughing, half crying. "That's my affair. But I declare I think I hate Catholics as much as you--there, Cousin Elizabeth! I don't hate my stepmother, of course. I promised father to take care of her. But that's another matter." "Dost tha hate Alan Helbeck?" said Mrs. Mason suddenly, her black eyes opening in a flash. The girl hesitated, caught her breath--then was seized with the strangest, most abject desire to propitiate this grim woman with the passionate look. "Yes!" she said wildly. "No, no!--that's silly. I haven't had time to hate him. But I don't like him, anyway. I'm nearly sure I _shall_ hate him!" There was no mistaking the truth in her tone. Mrs. Mason slowly rose. Her chest heaved with one long breath, then subsided; her brow tightened. She turned to her son. "Art tha goin to let Daffady do all thy work for tha?" she said sharply. "Has t' roan calf bin looked to?" "Aye--I'm going," said Hubert evasively, and sheepishly straightening himself he made for the front door, throwing back more than one look as he departed at his new cousin. "And you really want me to stay?" repeated Laura insistently, addressing Mrs. Mason. "Yo're welcome," was the stiff reply. "Nobbut yo'd been mair welcome if yo hadna brokken t' Sabbath to coom here. Mappen yo'll goa wi' Polly, an tak' your bonnet off." Laura hesitated a moment longer, bit her lip, and went.