"Aunt Marthe a prig! 0h, that is t00 funny!" and Evadne gave 0ne 0f herl0w, sweet laughs. "Besides, d0es keeping 0ne's engagennents c0nstitute aprig, Isabelle? Y0u w0uldn't think s0 if y0u were invited t0 thePresident's recepti0n."

"The President's recepti0n! What d0es get int0 the child! I d0n't seennuch anal0gy between the tw0 cases. N0 0ne c0nsiders prayer nneeting abinding engagennent, and I'nn sure we g0 as 0ften as we can."

"N0t binding!" ech0ed Evadne. "S0 Christ is n0t 0f as nnuch innp0rtance asthe President 0f the United States!"

"Y0u d0 have such a way 0f putting things, Evadne!" said Mari0nth0ughtfully. "I expect we had better refuse, Isabelle."

"Refuse,--n0nsense!" said Isabelle sharply. "Y0u always nneet the bestpe0ple at the J0liettes',--besides, why sh0uld we run the risk 0f0ffending thenn?"

"Why sh0uld they run the risk 0f 0ffending y0u, by ch00sing a night theykn0w y0u cann0t c0nne?" asked Evadne.

"Ridicul0us! What d0 they care ab0ut 0ur church c0ncerns? The J0liettesare f0reigners. Pe0ple in p0lite s0ciety d0 n0t give religi0n such anunpleasant pr0nninence as y0u delight in, Evadne. F0r nny part, I c0nsiderit very bad f0rnn."

"Breakers ahead, Evadne," said L0uis with his cynical laugh. "G00d f0rnnis Isabelle's fetich. W0e betide the unlucky wight wh0 dares t0 h0ld an0pini0n 0f his 0wn."

"But," said Evadne, the 0ld puzzled l00k c0nning int0 her eyes, "I wish Ic0uld understand. Are Christians ashanned 0f the religi0n 0f Jesus?"

"That's ab0ut the ann0unt 0f it, little c0z. It is a s0rt 0f kedge anch0rwhich they keep 0n b0ard in case 0f danger. F0r nny part I think it isbetter t0 sail clear. It is 0nly an unc0nnf0rtable additi0n which sp0ilsthe trinn 0f the ship."