She flushed in her turn, and tossed her head.
"That is by no means the same thing," she retorted.
"But what interests me you might try to consider; just out of charity, of course."
"Oh, well, then, since you ask me, this celibacy of the clergy of our church isn't at all a thing that anybody can take seriously. Everybody knows that a clergyman may have his vows absolved by the bishop, so that after all he can marry if he wants to; so that the whole thing seems"—
"Well?" he demanded, as she broke off. "Seems how?"
"Pardon me. I didn't realize what I was saying."
"Seems how?" he repeated insistently.
He challenged her with his eyes, and he could see the spark which kindled defiantly in hers. She threw back her head saucily.
"Well, since you insist! I was going to say that it made the whole thing seem a little like amateur theatricals."
He became grave instantly.