on her
cushions, and gaze on the stir as a peep-show."

A few hours later we were all again assembled in conclave, and the
Master himself with us, for election of a new Prioress. And after the
mass of the Holy Ghost we Mothers went round to gather up the votes. It
fell as I looked, and Sister Gaillarde is elected. In all the house
there were only nine that voted otherwise, and of these four were for
Sister Joan, two for Sister Ismania, and one each for Sisters Ada,
Isabel, and myself. I feel sure that mine was Margaret's: and Joan says
she is certain Sister Ada's was her own. I voted, as before, for Sister
Gaillarde, for truly I think her fittest of all for the place. Her
ordination fallows next week.

"Verily," said Sister Ada, the next time we were at recreation, "I do
marvel at Sister Gaillarde's manner of taking her election. Not one
word of humility or obedience, but just took it as if it were her right,
and she were the most suitable person!"

"Why, that was obedience, was it not?" responded Sister Ismania.

"Obedience it might be, but it was not lowliness!" said Sister Ada,
tartly. "If I had been elect--of course I do not mean that I expected
such a thing, not for a moment--I should have knelt down and kissed the
chapel floor, and protested my sense of utter unworthiness and
incapacity for such an office."

Sister Isabel, who sat by me, said in a low voice,--"Maybe some of your
Sisters would have agreed with you." And though I felt constrained to
give her a look of remonstrance, I must say I thought with her. Sister
Ada as Prioress would have been a sore infliction.

But now Sister Gaillarde herself came forward. I do not think Sister
Ada had known she was there, to judge from her change of colour.

"Sister Ada," said she, "you are one of those surface observers who
always fancy people do not feel what they do not say. Let me answer you
once for all, and any who think with you. As a sinner before God, I do
feel mine unworthiness, even to the lowest depth: and I am bound to
humble myself for all my sins, and not least for the pride which would
fain think them few and small. But as for incapacity, I do not feel
that; and I shall not say what I do not feel. I think myself quite
capable of governing this house--I do not say as well as some might do
it, but as well as most would do; and it would be falsehood and
affectation to pretend otherwise. I suppose, in condemning hypocrisy,
our Lord did