The spirits of youth are elastic. The April cloud soon passed from Mary's brow, and before the fleet horses had skimmed a mile, her laugh rang out as merrily as ever.
The lovers had both a trained eye for natural beauty, and the lovely road through which they passed, with its brown houses half hidden in foliage--the lazy grazing cattle--the scent of new-mown hay and breath of flowers--the rude song of the plowman and the delicate twitter of the bird--the far-off hills, with their tall trees distinctly defined against the clear blue sky--the silver stream and velvet meadows--the wind's wild anthem, now swelling as if in full chorus, then soft and sweet as the murmur of a sleeping babe, all filled their hearts with a quiet joy.
"Life is very sweet," said Mary, turning her lustrous eyes upon her lover. "People say that happiness and prosperity harden the heart; when I am most blest I feel most devotional. In vain might the infidel tell me 'there is no God,' with such a scene as this before me, or fetter my grateful heart-pulses as they adored the Giver."
"You dear little saint," said Percy, with a light laugh, "how well you preach. Well--my mother was neck-deep in religion; the prayers and hymns she taught me, stay by me now, whether I will or no. I often catch myself saying 'Now I lay me,' when I go to bed, from the mere force of habit; but your rosy lips were never made to mumble pater nosters, Mary: leave that to crafty priests, and disappointed nuns. Religion, my pet, is another name for humbug, all the world over; your would-be-saint always cheats in proportion to the length of his face and his prayers. Bah! don't let us talk of it."
"Don't--dear Percy," said Mary. "I like you less well when you talk so; religion is the only sure basis of character. Every superstructure not built on this foundation--"
"Must topple over, I suppose," said Percy. "Don't you believe it, my angel. I am a living example to the contrary; but Cupid knows I would subscribe to any article of faith emanating from your rosy lips;" and Percy drew rein at the door of his father-in-law's mansion, and leaping out, assisted Mary to alight.
"Such a lovely drive as we have had, dear mother," said Mary, throwing her hat upon the table. "Percy has just gone off with a client on business; he will be back presently. Dear Percy! he's just the best fellow in the world--a little lax on religious points, but he loves me well enough to be influenced there. Now I will sit down at this window while I sew, and then I shall see Percy when he comes up the street."