omprehension of his real character, and of the nature of his
pursuits; and--believe me, Madame, it would be cruel to disturb
that ignorance."

"She has nothing to fear from me in that respect," said the
Superior coldly; "my brother might have spared the threats
with which he insults me; his child will never hear his name
mentioned by me. From the time she enters this house her past
life is at an end; she must lean to forget it, and prepare for
the future she will spend here."

"Not as a nun!" cried Graham involuntarily.

"And why not as a nun, Monsieur?"

"It was her father's last wish, his dying request that she
should never become a nun: it was the fear of some such design
on your part that made him hesitate about sending her to you,
Madame. You must surely understand from his letter how anxious
he is on that point."

"I see that he proposes an alternative that I cannot
contemplate for a moment; it is not to train actresses that we
receive pupils at the convent, Monsieur; and I have too much
regard for my niece's welfare not to prepare her for that life
which on earth is the most peaceful and blessed, and which
will win for its followers so rich a reward hereafter. But
pardon me--I cannot expect you to agree with me on this point,
and it is one that it is useless for us to discuss."

She rose as she spoke, and Graham rose also; there was nothing
more to be said.

"Then it only remains for me to bring Madelon here," he said,
"and hand over to you the sum of money which M. Linders left
for her use."

"That is all," replied the Superior; "if you can bring her
this afternoon I shall be ready to receive her. You must
accept my thanks, Monsieur, for your kindness to her, and for
the trouble you have taken."

Graham, as he walked back to the hotel, was ready to vow that
nothing should induce him to hand Madelon over to the care of
her grim aunt. He understood now M. Linders' reluctance to
send her to his sister, and sympathised with it fully. Poor
little Madelon, with her pretty, impulsive ways, her naive
ignorance,--Madelon, so used to be petted and indulged, she to
be shut up within those dull walls, with that horrible, harsh,
unforgiving woman, to be taught, and drilled, and turned into
a nun--he hated to think of it! He would take her away with
him, he would hide her somewhere, he would send her to his
sister who had half a dozen children of her own to look after,
he would make his aunt adopt her--his aun