moment she believed that he hesitated between her and Nina. But
Nina had been entrusted to her care by her dying mother; could she ever
come between her and her happiness? Never! Should she bring tears to
those clear eyes? Should she ruin by her egotism "her child's" future?
_He_ might hesitate, but she must not! Only what should she do?

She had not to reflect long. Her mother had taught her to forget herself
and accustomed her to the thought of self-sacrifice. Happiness bought at
the cost of another's suffering could not be endurable, she said to
herself. Even if he did not yet love Nina, she would entrust her to his
care, at the moment of her departure, and love would soon follow. Her
sister would not miss her; those who are in love do not need a third
person. Her life, as far as she was concerned, was finished; she would
never love again; natures like hers neither change nor forget. As for
being present to witness the spectacle of this youthful happiness, that
was beyond her power. Perhaps in course of time, when everything had
settled down, she might return. At present she must go where they could
not discover her, or even if they did so, not be able to bring her back
into the world.

It was then that she recollected the peace that she thought she had seen
pervading the convents which she had visited with her mother, and that
devotional atmosphere which soothes those whom life has cheated. She
recalled to memory the face of Sister Melanie, of whom it was said that
she had lived through all the trials that can come upon a woman. How
serene her face was and how grand and noble that once passionate heart!

After her absence, Helene, returning one evening to her house, found her
sister and him in the garden. A nightingale was singing, and the flowers
were exhaling their scents. She thought she saw on the faces of the two
young people an expression of happiness. The next day she told her
sister that she was leaving for Petrograd, and that their aunt would
stay with her during her absence. She took leave of both for "a certain
time" as she said, and ignored his melancholy air when she entrusted her
little girl to his care. She wrote seldom from Petrograd; Nina's letters
showed signs of ennui; Helene explained it to herself by the fact that
the younger one had never been without her before. Later on, she left
for a foreign country, and it was from thence that she announced to her
family the unexpected news of her enterin