I am not quite so superstitious," he added, smiling, "as to fear contagion from accidentally witnessing forms, which are not altogether agreeable to my conscience." "You deserve to be canonized for your liberality," said De Valette; "for I doubt if there could be another such rare example found, in all the New England colonies.

We Hugonots," he continued, with affected gravity, "account ourselves less rigid than your self-denying sect, and are sometimes drawn into ceremonies, which our hearts abominate." "No more of this, Eustace," said La Tour; "Mr.Stanhope must know that all of us are, at times, governed by circumstances, which we cannot control; and he has heard enough of my situation, to conceive the address which is necessary to control a garrison, composed of different nations and religions, who are often mutinous, and at all times discordant.

I should scarcely at any other time have been so engaged, but Mad.

de la Tour, who is really too sincere a protestant to attend a Catholic service, prevailed on me to be present at the marriage of her favorite maid,--I might almost say companion,--with a young soldier, who has long been distinguished by his fidelity in my service." Before Stanhope could reply to this plausible explanation, their attention was attracted by the sound of approaching voices, and the sonorous tones of Mr.Broadhead, the Presbyterian minister, were instantly recognized.
"I tell thee, boy," he said, "thou art in the broad way which leadeth to destruction." "Do you think so, father ?" asked his companion, who was one of the torch-bearers, and still carried the blazing insignium of his office--"and what shall I do, to find my way out of it ?" "Abjure the devil and his works, if thou art desirous of returning to the right path," he replied.
"You mean the pope and the church, I suppose," said the boy, in a tone of simplicity; "like my lady's chaplain, who often edifies his hearers on this topic." "It would be well for thee to hearken to him, boy; and perchance it might prove a word in season to thy soul's refreshment." "It has sometimes proved a refreshment to my body," said the boy; "his exhortations are so ravishing, that they are apt to lull one to sound repose." "Thou art a flippant youth!" said the chaplain, stopping abruptly, and speaking in an accent of displeasure.

"But I pity thy delusion," he added, after a brief pause, "and bid thee remember, that if thou hast access to the word, and turnest from it, thou can'st not make the plea of ignorance, in extenuation of thy crime." "It is no fault in me to believe as I have been taught," said the boy, sullenly; "and it would ill become me, to dispute the doctrines which I have received from those who have a claim on my respect and obedience." "They are evil doctrines, child; perverse heresies to lead men astray, into the darkness of error and idolatry." "I could not have believed it!" answered the other, gravely; "I thought I was listening to the truth, from the lips of my lady's chaplain." "And who says, that I do not teach the truth?
I, who have made it my study and delight from my youth upwards ?" "Not I, truly; but your reverence chides me for believing in error, when, my belief is daily confirmed by your own instructions and example." "Who are you, that presumes to say so?
and, with these vestments of Satan on your back, to bear witness to your falsehood ?" demanded the chaplain.
"Now may the saints defend me from your anger! I did not mean to offend," said the boy, shrinking from his extended hand, and bending his head, as if to count the beads of a rosary which hung around his neck.
"Did _I_ teach you this mummery ?" resumed the irritated Scot; "did _I_ teach you to put on those robes of the devil, and hold that lighted torch to him, as you have but now done ?" "I crave your pardon," returned the boy; "I thought it was my lady's chaplain, whom I was lighting across the yard, but your reverence knows the truth better than I do." As he spoke, he waved the torch on high, and the light fell full upon the excited features of Mr.Broadhead.A laugh from De Valette, who had, unobserved, drawn near enough to overhear them, startled both, and checked the angry reply, which was bursting from the chaplain's lips.