CHAPTER XXXV.
ANTIQUITIES.
As Pitt went off, Mrs. Dallas came on the verandah. 'You would not go to drive?' she said to Betty.
'It is so hot, dear Mrs. Dallas! I had what was much better than a drive—a good long talk.'
'What do you think of my boy?' asked the mother, with an accent of happy confidence in which there was also a vibration of pride.
'He puzzles me. Has he not some peculiar opinions?'
'Have you found that out already?' said Mrs. Dallas, with a change of tone. 'That shows he must like you very much, Betty; my son is not given to letting himself out on those subjects. Even to me he very seldom speaks of them.'
'What subjects do you mean, dear Mrs. Dallas?' inquired the young lady softly.
'I mean,' said Mrs. Dallas uneasily and hesitating, 'some sort of religious questions. I told you he had had to do at one time with dissenting people, and I think their influence has been bad for him. I hoped in England he would forget all that, and become a true Churchman. What did he say?'
'Nothing about the Church, or about religion. I do not believe it would be easy for any one to influence him, Mrs. Dallas.'