a year
has been to make that girl feel that her true way is out of the House of
Martha."

"Then she is not bound by vows or promises?" I asked, with some
excitement.

"Not in the least," said she. "She can leave us when she pleases. I do
not think she likes her life or her duties, unless, indeed, they lead
her in the direction of dictated literature; but she has a firm will,
and, having joined us, has never shown the slightest sign of a desire to
leave us. She always asserts that, when the proper time arrives, she
shall vow herself a permanent member of our sisterhood."

"What preposterous absurdity!" I exclaimed. "She will never conform to
your rules. She hates nursing. She has too much good sense to insult her
fine womanly nature by degrading and unnecessary sacrifices."

"How delightfully confidential she must have been!--but I assure you,
sir, that she never said that sort of thing to me. There were things she
liked and things she did not like, but she showed no signs of
rebellion."

"Which was wise," I said, "knowing that you thought she ought not to be
there, any way."

"Oh, but she is a little serpent," exclaimed my companion, "and so wise
to confide in you, and without flirting! It must have been charming to
see."

I did not reply to this remark, which I considered flippant, and my mind
was not inclined to flippancy.

"It may appear strange to you," she continued, "and would probably
appear strange to any one who did not understand the case, that I should
have allowed her to become your amanuensis, but this whole affair is a
very peculiar one. In the first place, it is absolutely necessary that
Sylvia should work. It is not only her duty as a sister, but without it
she would fall into a morbid mental condition. She is not fitted in any
way for the ordinary labors of our House, so I was glad to find
something which would not only suit her, but would so interest her that
it would help to draw her away from us, and back into the world, to
which she rightfully belongs. This must appear an odd desire for a
mother superior of a religious body, but it is founded on an earnest and
conscientious regard for the true welfare of my young friend.

"And then there was another reason for my allowing her to come to you.
You would smile if you could picture to yourself the mental image I had
formed of you, which was founded entirely on your grandmother's remarks
when she came to see me about engaging one of our siste