But it is not so very long since Malcolm used to hint
something much the same about yourself, my lady!"
"Then he was quite right," returned Clementina. "I am only just
beginning to think, and if I can find a teacher, here I am, his
pupil."
"Well, I suppose I can spare my groom quite enough to teach you all
he knows," Florimel said, with what Clementina took for a marked
absence of expression. She reddened. But she was not one to defend
herself before her principles.
"If he can, why should he not?" she said. "But it was of his friend
Mr Graham I was thinking---not himself."
"You cannot tell whether he has got anything to teach you."
"Your groom's testimony gives likelihood enough to make it my duty
to go and see. I intend to find the place this evening."
"It must be some little ranting methodist conventicle. He would
not be allowed to preach in a church, you know."
"Of course not! The church of England is like the apostle that
forbade the man casting out devils, and got forbid himself for it
--with this difference that she won't be forbid. Well, she chooses
her portion with Dives and not Lazarus. She is the most arrant
respecter of persons I know, and her Christianity is worse than a
farce. It was that first of all that drove me to doubt. If I could
find a place where everything was just the opposite, the poorer it
was the better I should like it.
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