oseph I believe,")
inquired Mr. Sackville of the sister, "impose on you the performance of
severe penances?"

"No," she replied, "we are exempted from extraordinary penances, on
account of the fatiguing and often loathsome offices that we have to
perform for the sick; these are received as sufficient mortifications.
We open our doors to the sick mendicant and wounded soldiers. We had in
this apartment at one time during the late war seventeen American
soldiers."

"My countrymen," replied Mr. Sackville, "had abundant reason to be
grateful that they fell into your skilful and benevolent hands,--the
beautiful order and neatness of your hospital prove with what fidelity
your samaritan duties are performed."

While the nun, courteously bowing her head at this merited compliment,
led the way to an adjoining ante-room appropriated to medicines,
surgical instruments, &c. Mrs. Sackville said in a low voice to Edward,
"Take notice, my dear son, that where the _precepts_ of the christian
religion are strictly applied they produce the same fruits; no matter by
what name the particular faith is called, Catholic or Protestant."

"Oh look there, mother," exclaimed Julia, pointing to large cases with
glass doors which contained the medicines, "I am sure that in spite of
your laws of association, those vials and gallipots look quite
beautiful."

"And I suspect they contain nothing very disagreeable," replied her
mother; "these sisters do not appear to deal in the harsh medicines
of our daring doctors, but content themselves with emollients and
palliatives. See those labels, 'eau hysterique'--'eau celeste;' even
you, Julia, would have no objection to medicines that deserve such
pretty appellatives."

From the Hotel Dieu they went to the chapel and sacristie. Julia pointed
to the altars on which were standing vases filled with white lilies and
carnations. "Every where, mother," she said, "we see these beautiful
flowers, even in the churches."

"And they are certainly not inappropriate, Julia," replied her mother,
"in His temple whose pencil paints and breath perfumes them."

After all had been shown that is usually exhibited, the sister invited
her visiters to go to the garden. Mrs. Sackville said that though she
had heard it much extolled, their time would not permit them the pleasure
of seeing it, but she said there was a farther trouble that she must
venture on imposing. She understood the sisters sometimes permitted
their v