Page:Elizabeth Jordan--Tales of the city room.djvu/106

 more than usual interest in the character of a woman who gives up everything for a conventual life." She had regained her self-control and her voice and glance were steady, if hurried.

"She was one of the most beautiful women I ever saw," began Miss Herrick, quietly, "and I have been told she was brilliant and charming as well. I had never met her before, and I had only a moment with her then as she was saying a last good-by to her friends. She was so calm and strong through the whole dreadful ordeal that my heart went out to her. It is horrible to see such a woman burying herself alive. She could have done so much in the world if she had been content to remain there. But somehow I fancied that she had been unhappy. She seemed to have no relatives, and though a great many of her friends were there and they wept a good deal, they were all cheerful enough when it was over."

Miss Herrick paused, but there was no comment from her hostess. The room was growing dark. The firelight, falling on the two figures in the big chair, showed the