"Othello," suggested Charley.
"Cassibelaunus—O Bell! do call him Cassibelaunus!"
"Nonsense, Lucy. I shall call him Nero."
"Then he is a Christian, my dear?" asked her mother.
"I don't think he knows anything about it," replied his mistress, with a short laugh. "But you know 'tis scarce decent to be attended by an unbaptized black; and he will be a Christian when 'tis done."
"I am not so sure of that, Bell," said Madam Passmore, quietly.
It was the first time that Madam Passmore had been known to express any individual opinion upon religious subjects.
"All baptized people are Christians," answered Mrs. John Rowe, a little more sharply than was respectful.
"All baptized are called Christians," corrected her mother. "I scarce think, Bell, that if thou hast left thy black completely untaught in matters of religion, that pouring a little water on his face will cause him to become suddenly learned. And whether it will suddenly cause anything else of a deeper nature may be to be questioned."
Celia listened with the greater interest because the tone of Madam Passmore's observations was alike unexpected and unprecedented.