ve I not hoped too much? Is your heart mine? Come what may, can I
count on you--on your love--?"

"Yes, Yes!" The words rushed up from the very bottom of her heart, and
Orion, with a sigh of relief, followed the old man, glad and comforted.

The study was lighted up, and there, without mentioning Katharina, he
told Rufinus of the patriarch's scheme for dispersing the nuns of St.
Cecilia. What could he care for these Melchite sisters? But, since that
consoling hour in the church, he felt as though it were his duty to
stand forth for all that was right, and to do battle against everything
that was base. Besides, he knew how warmly and steadfastly his father
had taken the part of this very convent against the patriarch. Finally,
he had heard how strongly his beloved was attached to this retreat and
its superior, so he prepared himself gleefully to come forth a new man
of deeds, and show his prowess.

The old man listened with growing surprise and horror, and when Orion
had finished his story he rose, helplessly wringing his hands. Orion
spoke to him encouragingly, and told him that he had come, not merely
to give the terrible news, but to hold council with him as to how
the innocent victims might be rescued. At this the grey-headed
philanthropist and wanderer pricked up his ears; and as an old war
horse, though harnessed to the plough, when he hears the trumpet sound
lifts his head and arches his neck as proudly and nobly as of yore
under his glittering trappings, so Rufinus drew himself up, his old
eyes sparkled, and he exclaimed with all the enthusiasm and eagerness of
youth:

"Very good, very good; I am with you; not merely as an adviser; no,
no. Head, and hand, and foot, from crown to heel! And as for you, young
man--as for you! I always saw the stuff that was in you in spite--in
spite.--But, as surely as man is the standard of all things, those
who reach the stronghold of virtue by a winding road are often better
citizens than those who are born in it.--It is growing late, but
evensong will not yet have begun and I shall still be able to see the
abbess. Have you any plan to propose?"

"Yes; the day after to-morrow at this hour...."

"And why not to-morrow?" interrupted the ardent old man.

"Because I have preparations to make which cannot be done in twelve
hours of daylight."

"Good! Good!"

"The day after to-morrow at dusk, a large barge--not one of ours--will
be lying by the bank at the foot of the conven