r Esther, will you take us in?"

"Welcome both!" replied Mere Esther, kissing each of them on the
forehead. "The virgins who enter in with the bridegroom to the marriage
are those whose lamps are burning! The lamp of Repentigny is never
extinguished in the Chapel of Saints, nor is the door of the monastery
ever shut against one of your house."

"Thanks, good mother! But we bring a heavy burden with us. No one but
God can tell the weight and the pain of it!" said Amelie sadly.

"I know, Amelie, I know; but what says our blessed Lord? 'Come unto me
all ye that are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.'"

"I seek not rest, good mother," replied she sadly, "but a place for
penance, to melt Heaven with prayers for the innocent blood that has
been shed to-day, that it be not recorded forever against my brother.
Oh, Mere Esther, you know my brother, Le Gardeur; how generous and kind
he was! You have heard of the terrible occurrence in the market-place?"

"Yes, I have heard," said the nun. "Bad news reaches us ever soonest.
It fills me with amazement that one so noble as your brother should have
done so terrible a deed."

"Oh, Mere Esther!" exclaimed Amelie eagerly, "it was not Le Gardeur in
his senses who did it. No, he never knowingly struck the blow that has
killed me as well as the good Bourgeois! Alas! he knew not what he did.
But still he has done it, and my remaining time left on earth must be
spent in sackcloth and ashes, beseeching God for pardon and mercy for
him."

"The community will join you in your prayers, Amelie," replied the Mere.

Esther stood wrapt in thought for a few moments. "Heloise!" said she,
addressing the fair cousin of Amelie, "I have long expected you in the
monastery. You struggled hard for the world and its delights, but
God's hand was stronger than your purposes. When He calls, be it in the
darkest night, happy is she who rises instantly to follow her Lord!"

"He has indeed called me, O mother! and I desire only to become a
faithful servant of His tabernacle forever. I pray, good Mere Esther,
for your intercession with the Mere de la Nativite. The venerable
Lady Superior used to say we were dowerless brides, we of the house of
Lotbiniere."

"But you shall not be dowerless, Heloise!" burst out Amelie. "You shall
enter the convent with as rich a dowry as ever accompanied an Ursuline."

"No, Amelie; if they will not accept me for myself, I will imitate
my aunt, the admirable q