Because of conscience : $b Being a novel relating to the adventures of certain Huguenots in old New York

In the quiet fields outside a fledgling New York settlement, young Alaine pauses to pluck a wild marigold, the bright bloom a quiet symbol of the Protestant faith that circulates among the hidden Huguenot community. Her curiosity draws her into a spirited exchange with her cousin Étienne, whose teasing remarks reveal the fragile balance between Catholic authority and the secret gatherings of believers. Their banter hints at the larger tension that threads through the colony: a network of covert meetings, whispered prayers, and the ever‑present danger of persecution.

Through vivid dialogue and keen observations of everyday life—sun‑dried linen, the scent of fresh bread, and a dog’s sudden bark—the opening paints a portrait of a family caught between devotion and doubt. As Alaine resolves to seek answers from her father returning from Paris, listeners are invited into a world where personal faith and colonial ambition clash, setting the stage for an intimate saga of courage, loyalty, and the unquiet heart of early New York.