"I am sorry to affirm, Madame," replied Julie, hesitatingly, "that there are reasons which must subject me to the painful necessity of refusing my obedience to your and the Signor's requests. The religious opinions of the person you have proposed to me as a husband are repugnant to my own, and a want of concord in that important article must ever prove hostile to domestic happiness."
"So you would actually decline a connexion with one of the first families in Italy," returned Madame Laronne, indignantly, "because the person who addresses you, happens not to be so bigoted and so ridiculous as yourself?"
Julie observing that he might be equally bigoted, even though his principles were erroneous, ventured to disclose the motive which had instigated her to this sudden rejection of a suit, she candidly acknowledged a mind less unambitious than her own, unbiassed by more weighty arguments,might
