“Nothing to do with what did you say?” asked Lady Atherley, diverted by this last remark from a long row of loops upon an ivory needle which she appeared to be counting.

“Nothing to do with God.”

“Do you know, Lucinda,” said Lady Atherley, “if you would not mind, I fancy the coffee is just coming in, and perhaps it would be as well just to wait for a little, you know—­just till the servants are out of the room?  They might perhaps think it a little odd.”

“Yes,” said Atherley, “and even unorthodox.”

Mrs. Molyneux submitted to this interruption with the greatest sweetness and composure, and dilated on the beauty of the new chair-covers till Castleman and the footman had retired, when, with a coffee-cup instead of a fan in her exquisite hand, she took up the thread of her exposition.

“As I was saying, the distinction of this religion is that it has nothing to do with God.  Of course it has other great advantages, which I will explain later, like its cultivation of a sixth sense, for instance—­”

“Do you mean common sense?”

“Jane, what am I to do with Sir George?  He is really incorrigible.  How can I possibly explain things if you will not be serious?”

“I never was more serious in my life.  Show me a religion which cultivates common sense, and I will embrace it at once.”

“It is just because I knew you would go on in this way that I do not attempt to say anything about the supernatural side of this religion, though it is very important and most extraordinary.  I assure you, my dear Jane, the powers that people develop under it are really marvellous.  I have friends who can see into another world as plainly as you can see this drawing-room, and talk as easily with spirits as I am talking with you.”

“Indeed!” said Lady Atherley politely, with her eyes fixed anxiously on something which had gone wrong with her knitting.

“Unfortunately, for that kind of thing you require to undergo such severe treatment; my health would not stand it; the London season itself is almost too much for me.  It is a pity, for they all say I have great natural gifts that way, and I should have so loved to have taken it up; but to begin with, one must have no animal food and no stimulants, and the doctors always tell me I require a great deal of both.”

“Besides, le jeu ne vaut pas la chandelle,” said Atherley, “if the spirits you are to converse with are anything like those we used to meet in your drawing-room.”

“That is not the same thing at all; these were only spooks.”

“Only what?”