"Cannot? Why who is to hinder you?" asked Mr. Ashton, looking at her with some surprise. "I—I mean—I should say—I am very much obliged to you, sir, but I would rather not," stammered Jane, coloring deeply. "O, that's another thing; will not and cannot have rather different meanings, Miss Jane; but I hope you don't think there's any more harm in coming here, than in going to visit some other friends on a Sunday. We hear that you are turning religious, and we think it a pity you should wish to grow dull and formal." "O, I am not religious," said Jane; "and I never knew, until I went to Mrs. Davis's, what a happy thing it is to be so, at least, to have such religion as hers. If Fanny and Ellen would come only once, they would soon see that we are not dull and formal." "Well, well, my dear, I'm afraid you are getting on fast; but every one to his taste. I'm sure I shall never persecute any one for his creed, for everybody has a right to judge for himself, according to his conscience, I think." Jane felt exceedingly uncomfortable, but she did not know how to reply to a sentiment which, nevertheless, she knew to be false and dangerous. At last, however, summoning courage, she said, as meekly as she could, lest Mr. Ashton should think her presumptuous: "We study the Bible at Mrs. Davis's, sir, to find out what is God's will, and then our consciences can tell us afterward whether we try to do it or not." "Ah, I dare say; that is Mrs. Davis's way, you see," said Mr. Ashton. "O sir, surely it is the right way. How can we tell what is really true and right in any other way?" "I never argue, my dear; I let people think as they please," said Mr. Ashton, hastily. "Now, Ellen," again implored Jane, seeing her yet unprepared to depart, "indeed I must go without you." And she opened the door, on which Ellen and Fanny darted up stairs, leaving her to wait in the shop until their return. It was evident that the family in the sitting-room supposed she also had gone up to hasten the process of dressing for the walk, for a conversation immediately commenced, which they could scarcely have intended for her ear, but the door not being completely closed, and Jane having seated herself in the dark, to wait as desired, she could not avoid hearing it. "I'll tell you what, Harry," said Mr. Ashton to his son, "it's easy enough to be seen which of those two girls will make the sensible woman, and I hope you won't be paying too much attention to that foolish Miss Ellen." "O, you need not fear," replied the hopeful Mr. Harry; "it only amuses us to see how she is puffed up with vanity and conceit. She little thinks the fun we make of her for it. But I can tell you, we never talk nonsense to prim Miss Jane."