“Don’t you think,” asked Aunt Janet, “that she was actuated by far worthier reasons than those?”
Mildred was almost as much in love with Isabella as Dr. Graves, and declared “that she was moved in all her conquests and expeditions by a passionate desire to win souls for God and His Church.”
“By roasting their bodies at the stake,” added Mr. Crowe.
Mildred said, in her quiet, arch manner,—
“We may roast people alive in the coming age of science for much less important reasons, if physiologists have their way!”
This was a particularly nasty cut, as it was well known Mr. Crowe had often lamented to his class that criminals under sentence of death could not be used for scientific purposes.
“We should not burn people alive, I hope,” said he.
“I am not so sure of that. I have read somewhere of one of your profession boasting that he took particular delight in inflicting ‘atrocious pain’ on dogs.”
Aunt Janet interposed, as the discussion was getting rather acrid, and philosophically attempted an apology for the persecutions of the dark ages.
Having paid a visit to the Cartuja Convent, they returned to the hotel for luncheon, and afterwards wandered about the delicious gardens of the Generalife till it was time for dinner. As the night was moonlight, they obtained permission to enter the Alhambra again, and saw it with all the glamour and witchery of the midnight hour.