42/164 She was in complete ignorance of Jeanne's religious opinions. "Why ?" "Oh, nothing! I thought you seemed dissatisfied. Then you are not sorry you came ?" Signora Albacina was greatly astonished when Jeanne seized her hand and replied: "I am so grateful to you!" The voice was low and quiet, the pressure of the hand almost violent. "This is one of the future 'Ladies of the Holy Spirit'!" "For my part," she said aloud, "I am sure I shall keep to my old religion, the religion of the non-concessionists. They may be Pharisees or anything else you like, but I fear that if this old religion is subjected to so much retouching and restoring, it will tumble down, and nothing will be left standing. |