MADAME F----- MADAME H------ (These ladies are seated at needlework as they talk.) Madame F--For myself, you know, my dear, I fulfil my duties tolerably, still I am not what would be called a devotee. By no means. Pass me your scissors. Thanks. Madame H--You are quite welcome, dear. What a time those little squares of lace must take. I am like yourself in respect of religion; in the first place, I think that nothing should be overdone. Have you ever- I have never spoken to any one on the subject, but I see your ideas are so in accordance with my own that-- Madame F--Come, speak out, dear; you trust me a little, I hope. Madame H--Well, then, have you--tell me truly--ever had any doubts? Madame F--(after reflecting for a moment)--Doubts! No. And you? Madame H--I have had doubts, which has been a real grief to me. Heavens! how I have wept. Madame F--I should think so, my poor dear. For my own part, my faith is very strong. These doubts must have made you very unhappy. Madame H--Terribly so. You know, it seems as if everything failed you; there is a vacancy all about you--I have never spoken about it to my husband, of course--Leon is a jewel of a man, but he will not listen to anything of that kind. I can still see him, the day after our marriage; I was smoothing my hair--broad bands were then worn, you know. Madame F--Yes, yes; they were charming. You will see that we shall go back to them. Madame H--I should not be surprised; fashion is a wheel that turns. Leon, then, said to me the day after our wedding: "My dear child, I shall not hinder you going to church, but I beg you, for mercy's sake, never to say a word to me about it." Madame F--Really, Monsieur H. said that to you? Madame H--Upon my honor. Oh! my husband is all that is most--or, if you prefer it, all that is least-- Madame F--Yes, yes, I understand. That is a grief, you know. Mine is only indifferent. From time to time he says some disagreeable things to me on the question, but I am sure he could be very easily brought back to the right. At the first illness he has, you shall see. When he has only a cold in the head, I notice the change. You have not seen my thimble? Madame H--Here it is. Do not be too sure of that, dear; men are not to be brought back by going "chk, chk" to them, like little chickens. And then, though I certainly greatly admire the men who observe religious practices, you know me well enough not to doubt that--I think, as I told you, that nothing should be exaggerated. And yourself, pet, should you like to see your husband walking before the banner with a great wax taper in his right hand and a bouquet of flowers in his left?