"Oh no!" I said. "I liked them very much—I enjoyed them very much. I am sorry to stay away."

"Then you will not stay away very long."

"Yes—I shall."

"Why?" he asked again, with a little sort of imperative curiosity which was somehow very pleasant to me.

"I do not think it is right for me to go," I said. Then, seeing grave astonishment and great mystification in his face, I added, "I am a Christian, Mr. Thorold."

"A Christian!" he cried, with flashes of light and shadow crossing his brow. "Is that it?"

"That is it," I assented.

"But my dear Miss Randolph—you know we are friends?"

"Yes," I said, smiling, and glad that he had not forgotten it.

"Then we may talk about what we like. Christians go to hops."