'I know the book, but I didn't know a Catholic girl could admire it--and you are a Catholic, I presume?' 'I was brought up a Catholic.' 'It is one thing to be brought up a Catholic, and another to avoid doubting.' 'There can surely be no harm in doubting?' 'Not the least; but toward which side are you? Have you fallen into the soft feather-bed of agnosticism, or the thorny ditch of belief?' 'Why do you say "the soft feather-bed of agnosticism"?' 'It must be a relief to be redeemed from belief in hell; and perhaps there is no other redemption.' 'And do you never doubt?' she said. 'No, I can't say I am given much to doubting, nor do I think the subject is any longer worthy of thought. The world's mind, after much anxiety, arrives at a conclusion, and what sages cannot determine in one age, a child is certain about in the next. Thomas Aquinas was harassed with doubts regarding the possibility of old women flying through the air on broomsticks; nowadays were a man thus afflicted he would be surely a fit subject for Hanwell. The world has lived through Christianity, as it has through a score of other things. But I am afraid I shock you?' 'No, I don't think you do; only I never heard anyone speak in that way before--that is all.' Here the conversation came to a pause, and soon after the presence of some ladies rendered its revival impossible. Their evening gowns suggested the dinner-hour, and reminded Alice that she had to prepare herself for the meal. All the Galway people, excepting the Honourable Misses Gore and the Scullys--who had taken houses in town for the season--dined at _table d'hote._ The Miss Duffys were, with the famous Bertha, the terror of the _débutantes._ The Brennans and the Goulds sat at the same table. May, thinking of Fred, who had promised to come during the evening, leaned back in her chair, looking unutterably bored. Under a window Sir Richard and Sir Charles were immersed in wine and discussion. In earnest tones the latter deprecated the folly of indulging in country love; the former, his hand on the champagne bottle, hiccoughed, 'Mu--ch better come up--up Dub--lin, yer know, my boy. But look, look here; I know such a nice'--a glance round, to make sure that no lady was within earshot; and the conversation lapsed into a still more confidential whisper.