Madame F--Oh! very nice, except his feet; you know how it always gives one a chill to look at their feet; but, in short, he was very amiable. He was sent for into the drawing-room, but he would not take anything except a little biscuit and a glass of water, which took away our appetites. He was very lively; told us that we were coquettes with our little bonnets and our full skirts. He was very funny, always a little bit of the jeweller at the bottom, but with plenty of good nature and frankness. He imitated the buzzing of a fly for us; it was wonderful. He also wanted to show us a little conjuring trick, but he needed two corks for it, and unfortunately his sister could only find one. Madame H--No matter, I can not understand Clementine engaging a servant like that. Madame F--Why? The brother is a guarantee. Madame H--Of morality, I don't say no; but it seems to me that a girl like that can not be very discreet in her ways. Madame F--How do you make that out? Madame H--I don't know, I can not reason the matter out, but it seems to me that it must be so, that is all, . . . besides, I should not like to see a monk in my kitchen, close to the soup. Oh, mercy! no! Madame F--What a child you are! Madame H--That has nothing to do with religious feelings, my dear; I do not attack any dogma. Ah! if I were to say, for instance--come now, if I were to say, what now? Madame F--In point of fact, what really is dogma? Madame H--Well, it is what can not be attacked. Thus, for instance, a thing that is evident, you understand me, is unassailable, . . . or else it should be assailed, . . in short, it can not be attacked. That is why it is monstrous to allow the Jewish religion and the Protestant religion in France, because these religions can be assailed, for they have no dogma. I give you this briefly, but in your prayer-book you will find the list of dogmas. I am a rod of iron as regards dogmas. My husband, who, as I said, has succeeded in inspiring me with doubts on many matters--without imagining it, for he has never required anything of me; I must do him that justice--but who, at any rate, has succeeded in making me neglect many things belonging to religion, such as fasting, vespers, sermons, . . . confession. Madame F--Confession! Oh! my dear, I should never have believed that. Madame H--It is in confidence, dear pet, that I tell you this. You will swear never to speak of it? Madame F--Confession! Oh! yes, I swear it. Come here, and let me kiss you. Madame H--You pity me, do you not? Madame F--I can not pity you too much, for I am absolutely in the same position. Madame H--You, too! Good heavens! how I love you. What can one do, eh? Must one not introduce some plan of conciliation into the household, sacrifice one's belief a little to that of one's husband?