Page:The Czar, A Tale of the Time of the First Napleon.djvu/365

Rh in business, nor was any part of the heavy burden of care and responsibility that fell to his lot neglected or avoided.

Clémence would gladly have accompanied Ivan to some of Madame de Krudener's meetings; and Madame de Talmont, though she had her objections, might have gone also, but for the determined opposition of Madame de Salgues. "In my time," said the lady of the old régime, "women did not preach; and certainly, if they had done so, 'gens comme il faut' would not have gone to hear them. Why should you need Madame de Krudener to tell you to repent and believe? I suppose you hear those Christian duties inculcated every Sunday and holiday, when you go to church."

"Many people go to hear Madame de Krudener who never enter a church," Clémence observed.

"That is possible," returned Madame de Salgues. "Sick people, who will not eat wholesome food, sometimes take a fancy for extraordinary messes, and a wise doctor gives them their way. But you, my dear niece, are certainly not in that position."

"Madame de Krudener does not always speak; sometimes it is M. Empaytaz, a Swiss pastor, who gives the address," Clémence ventured again.

"Worse and worse, my dear! A Protestant!" cried Madame de Salgues in a tone of horror. "I sometimes wonder what the world is coming to. All barriers, all distinctions seem to be swept away in these revolutionary days."

Henri was sitting in another part of the room, occupied with a book; and none, save Clémence, noticed the flush of pain that overspread his face at these words.

Ivan and Clémence agreed that it would not be right for the latter to set aside the expressed wish of a relative to whom she owed so much. Therefore, instead of listening to Madame de Krudener or Empaytaz, she studied the Bible diligently, both alone and with Ivan, and lost nothing by going to the fountainhead, instead of to streams, not always of undeniable purity.