impelling me. I should like to describe them to you, and would if I
understood them well enough to do it accurately.

"However, nothing is further from my intention than to indite a
love letter; so I will return to graver questions. One, in
particular, must be clearly understood between us. You are too
earnest to consider an allusion to religious matters out of place
here. I do not know exactly what you believe; but I have gathered
from stray remarks of yours that you belong to what is called the
Broad Church. If so, we must to some extent agree to differ. I
should never interfere in any way with your liberty as far as your
actions concerned yourself only. But, frankly, I should not permit
my wife to teach my children to know Christianity in any other way
than that in which an educated Englishman knows Buddhism. I will
not go through any ceremony whatever in a church, or enter one
except to play the organ. I am prejudiced against religions of all
sorts. The Church has made itself the natural enemy of the theatre;
and I was brought up in the theatre until I became a poor workman
earning wages, when I found the Church always taking part against
me and my comrades with the rich who did no work. If the Church had
never set itself against me, perhaps I should never have set myself
against the Church; but what is done is done: you will find me
irreligious, but not, I hope, unreasonable.

"I will be at the Academy to-morrow at about four o'clock, as I do
not care to remain longer in suspense than is absolutely necessary;
but if you are not prepared to meet me then, I shall faithfully
help you in any effort I may perceive you make to avoid me.

"I am, dear Miss Lind,
"Yours sincerely,
"EDWARD CONOLLY."

This letter conveyed to Marian hardly one of the considerations set
forth in it. She thought it a frank, strong, admirable letter, just what
she should have hoped from her highest estimate of him. In the quaint
earnestness about religion, and the exaggerated estimate (as she
thought) of the advantages which she might forfeit by marrying him,
there was just enough of the workman to make them characteristic. She
wished that she could make some real sacrifice for his sake. She was
afraid to realize her situation at first, and, to keep it off, occupied
herself during the forenoon with her household duties, with some
pianoforte practice, and such