d, and the Person retired to her hammock.

"Now, then," asked Mother Anastasia, "what is the meaning of this
alarming frankness?"

"I wish to talk to you of Sylvia," I answered.

"If you imagine," she said, "that I intend to spend the short time I
shall remain upon this island in talking of Sylvia, you are very much
mistaken."

"Then let us talk of yourself," I replied.

She turned upon me with a frown and a laugh.

"If I had known," she said, "your habits of ingenuousness and candor, I
should have made you dictate to Sylvia through a speaking-tube. You have
known me less than a day. You have known her for a month. Can it be
possible that you talk to her as freely as you talk to me?"

"Madam," I exclaimed, "I love Sylvia, and therefore could not speak
freely to her."

"Your distinctions are wonderfully clear-cut," she said; "but why do you
wish to talk of me? I suppose you want to know why I am Mother Superior
of the House of Martha?"

"Yes," I answered, "that is a thing I cannot understand; but of course I
should not feel justified in even alluding to it if, yesterday, you had
not so kindly given me your confidence in regard to yourself and
Sylvia."

"It seems to me," she remarked, "that, as you decline to recognize the
name given to that young woman by our institution, you should call her
Miss Raynor; but I will say no more of that."

"It would be well," said I. "She is Sylvia to me. You must remember that
I never met her in the circles of conventionalism."

She laughed. "This whole affair is certainly very independent of
conventionalism; and as to your curiosity about me, that is very easily
gratified. Nearly five years ago I connected myself with the House of
Martha. Although there were sisters older than myself, I was chosen
Mother Superior, because I possessed rather more administrative
abilities than any of the others. I think I have governed the House
fairly well, even if, in regard to the matter of furnishing secretaries
to literary men, there has been some dissatisfaction."

"You allude to Sister Sarah?" said I.

"Yes," she answered; "and had she been head of the House, your peace of
mind would not have been disturbed. But what I did in that case I did
conscientiously and with good intent."

"And you are not sorry for it?" I asked.

"It may be that I shall be sorry for you," she replied, "but that is all
I have to say on that point. In a very short time I shall return to my
duties and to m