“You wouldn’t take such a liberty as to be shocked at anything I might do; would you, Miss Christie?”
His tone of grave mischief woke an answering spirit in me.
“Certainly not, Mr. Rayner.”
“Where did you pick up a sense of humor, most rare gift of your sex, and why do you hide it away so carefully, Miss Christie?”
“Indeed I don’t know; and I don’t mean to hide anything,” I answered rather foolishly.
“And how did you like the sermon?”
“I—I wasn’t listening much, Mr. Rayner.”
“Not listening! A religious little girl like you not listening! I’m surprised—I really am.”
His manner grew suddenly so grave, and he really seemed so much surprised, that I felt called upon to make a sort of profession.
“I’m not really religious,” I said hurriedly. “I haven’t meant ever to pretend to be. But I do respect religion and religious people very much, and I hope some day I shall be able to enter into their feelings better than I can now. I do pray for it,” I ended, almost in a whisper.