dently dangerously ill, confessed to Clara
that she had escaped from her home to join the convent against the
express wishes of her father, whom notwithstanding she asserted that she
loved dearly. She had ever been among the most obedient to the commands
of the Lady Superior, and the strictest in complying with the rules of
the order. Her illness increased; she at last received the news of the
death of that parent whose wishes she had disobeyed. The thought that
her disobedience had deeply grieved him whom she was bound to love
preyed on her mind, and tended much to aggravate her disease; the
arguments brought forward by the Lady Superior, and Mother Eldress, and
her father confessor, that God had the first claims on her, failed to
assuage her sorrow, or to persuade her that she had acted rightly.
Clara, observing that she looked more than usually ill when they parted
in the evening, could not refrain from going into her cell. She found
her on her bed, gasping for breath.

"Thank you for coming," whispered the poor girl; "it would have been
hard to die all alone. My poor father! my poor father!" she murmured;
"would that I could have been with him!"

She could utter no more. Clara, to her horror, while bending over her,
found that the poor sufferer had breathed her last. She hurried to the
apartment of the Mother Eldress, who came somewhat agitated to the dead
Sister's cell; but instead of expressing any grief at the occurrence,
she sternly rebuked Clara for breaking the rules, and ordered her back
to her own cell. The Sisters assembled at the usual hour in the chapel;
but not a word was said of the occurrence of the night. The nun was
buried with ceremonies resembling those of Rome, and things went on as
usual.

The Mother Eldress, who was looked upon as a very saintly person, was at
length taken ill, and Clara was ordered to attend on her. The medical
adviser of the sisterhood was sent for, and prescribed certain remedies
which Clara had to administer. A small spoon had been provided for
giving some powders in preserve; Clara used it daily for some time, till
the Mother Eldress recovered, when the Lady Superior took possession of
it. She had been in the habit of late of sending for Clara to impart
religious instruction, which, she observed, she much required; not
failing at times, however, to lecture her severely. The day after the
Mother Eldress had recovered from her illness the Lady Superior
address