an I ought to do. Ladies like the
Countess Romani think that we--we, the sepulchers of
womanhood--sepulchers that we have emptied and cleansed to the best of
our ability, so that they may more fittingly hold the body of the
crucified Christ; these grandes dames, I say, fancy that WE are
ignorant of all they know--that we cannot understand love, tenderness
or passion. They never reflect--how should they?--that we also have had
our histories--histories, perhaps, that would make angels weep for
pity! I, even I--" and she struck her breast fiercely, then suddenly
recollecting herself, she continued coldly: "The rule of our convent,
signer, permits no visitor to remain longer than one hour--that hour
has expired. I will summon a sister to show you the way out."

"Wait one instant, madame," I said, feeling that to enact my part
thoroughly I ought to attempt to make some defense of Nina's conduct;
"permit me to say a word! My fiancee is very young and thoughtless. I
really cannot think that her very innocent parting caress to me had
anything in it that was meant to purposely annoy you."

The nun glanced at me--her eyes flashed disdainfully.

"You think it was all affection for you, no doubt, signor? very
natural supposition, and--I should be sorry to undeceive you."

She paused a moment and then resumed:

"You seem an earnest man--may be you are destined to be the means of
saving Nina; I could say much--yet it is wise to be silent. If you love
her do not flatter her; her overweening vanity is her ruin. A firm,
wise, ruling master-hand may perhaps--who knows?" She hesitated and
sighed, then added, gently, "Farewell, signor! Benedicite!" and making
the sign of the cross as I respectfully bent my head to receive her
blessing, she passed noiselessly from the room.

One moment later, and a lame and aged lay-sister came to escort me to
the gate. As I passed down the stone corridor a side door opened a very
little way, and two fair young faces peeped out at me. For an instant I
saw four laughing bright eyes; I heard a smothered voice say, "Oh!
c'est un vieux papa!" and then my guide, who though lame was not blind,
perceived the opened door and shut it with an angry bang, which,
however, did not drown the ringing merriment that echoed from within.
On reaching the outer gates I turned to my venerable companion, and
laying four twenty-franc pieces in her shriveled palm, I said:

"Take these to the reverend mother for me, and ask