Page:Elizabeth Jordan--Tales of the city room.djvu/98

 very thoroughly convinced on the subject. After a slight pause the nun added quietly:— "You must not carry away a false impression. Try to believe that there is happiness here for those who seek it in the right spirit."

She had retained the girl's hand in her own, and, as she finished speaking, on a gracious impulse bent her head and lightly kissed this stranger who doubted the wisdom of her course, first on one cheek, then on the other.

"Good-by," she said, with the same sweet gravity. The long train of heavy white silk swept over the polished floor with a worldly rustle as she walked away. A moment more, and the last of the glistening fabric had vanished through an open door, which closed upon the stately figure. Sister Ethelbert had left the world.

Ruth Herrick drew a long breath and turned to Miss Van Orden.

"Do you realize," she asked, with brusque earnestness, "that that woman gave the last precious moments of her life in the world to