"No--no!" cried the startled woman in a voice of horror. "No--I will not
sleep--no, do not touch me! Oh, where am I--help! Help!"

She was not hurt. With one strong, lithe movement, she sprang to the
ground and stood with her back to the altar, her hands stretched out to
defend herself from Unorna. But Unorna knew what extreme danger she was
in if Beatrice left the church awake and conscious of what had happened.
She seized the moving arms and tried to hold them down, pressing her
face forward so as to look into the dark eyes she could but faintly
distinguish. It was no easy matter, however, for Beatrice was young and
strong and active. Then all at once she began to see Unorna's eyes, as
Unorna could see hers, and she felt the terrible influence stealing over
her again.

"No--no--no!" she cried, struggling desperately. "You shall not make me
sleep. I will not--I will not!"

There was a flash of light again in the church, this time from behind
the high altar, and the noise of quick footsteps. But neither Unorna nor
Beatrice noticed the light or the sound. Then the full glow of a strong
lamp fell upon the faces of both and dazzled them, and Unorna felt a
cool thin hand upon her own. Sister Paul was beside them, her face very
white and her faded eyes turning from the one to the other.

It was very simple. Soon after Compline was over the nun had gone to
Unorna's room, had knocked and had entered. To her surprise Unorna
was not there, but Sister Paul imagined that she had lingered over her
prayers and would soon return. The good nun had sat down to wait for
her, and telling her beads had fallen asleep. The unaccustomed warmth
and comfort of the guest's room had been too much for the weariness
that constantly oppressed a constitution broken with ascetic practices.
Accustomed by long habit to awake at midnight to attend the service, her
eyes opened of themselves, indeed, but a full hour later than usual.
She heard the clock strike one, and for a moment could not believe her
senses. Then she understood that she had been asleep, and was amazed
to find that Unorna had not come back. She went out hastily into the
corridor. The lay sister had long ago extinguished the hanging lamp, but
Sister Paul saw the light streaming from Beatrice's open door. She went
in and called aloud. The bed had not been touched. Beatrice was not
there. Sister Paul began to think that both the ladies must have gone to
the midnight service. The corrid