shan't go into that house. A Christian can't be
expected to care about beasts--but right is right all the world over.
Because a monkey is a nasty creature (as I have heard, not even good
to eat when he's dead), that's no reason for taking him out of his
own country and putting him into a cage. If we are to see creatures in
prison, let's see creatures who have deserved it--men and women, rogues
and sluts. The monkeys haven't deserved it. Go in--I'll wait for you at
the door."

Setting her bitterest emphasis on this protest, which expressed
inveterate hostility to Maria (using compassion for caged animals as the
readiest means at hand), Teresa seated herself in triumph on the nearest
bench.

A young person, possessed of no more than ordinary knowledge, might have
left the old woman to enjoy the privilege of saying the last word. Miss
Minerva's pupil, exuding information as it were at every pore in her
skin, had been rudely dried up at a moment's notice. Even earthly
perfection has its weak places within reach. Maria lost her temper.

"You will allow me to remind you," she said, "that intelligent curiosity
leads us to study the habits of animals that are new to us. We place
them in a cage--"

Teresa lost _her_ temper.

"You're an animal that's new to me," cried the irate duenna. "I never
in all my life met with such a child before. If you please, madam
governess, put this girl into a cage. My intelligent curiosity wants to
study a monkey that's new to me."

It was fortunate for Teresa that she was Carmina's favourite and friend,
and, as such, a person to be carefully handled. Miss Minerva stopped
the growing quarrel with the readiest discretion and good-feeling. She
patted Teresa on the shoulder, and looked at Carmina with a pleasant
smile. "Worthy old creature! how full of humour she is! The energy of
the people, Miss Carmina. I often remark the quaint force with which
they express their ideas. No--not a word of apology, I beg and pray.
Maria, my dear, take your sister's hand, and we will follow." She put
her arm in Carmina's arm with the happiest mixture of familiarity and
respect, and she nodded to Carmina's old companion with the cordiality
of a good-humoured friend.

Teresa was not further irritated by being kept waiting for any length of
time. In a few minutes Carmina joined her on the bench.

"Tired of the beasts already, my pretty one?"

"Worse than tired--driven away by the smell! Dear old Teresa, why