Page:Elizabeth Jordan--Tales of the cloister.djvu/49

 first, and possibly the last subject admitted to their care. But what were theories in the presence of this remarkable infant? One seraphic smile from Frederick Addison upset every resolution and left the soft-hearted Sisters helpless in his presence.

They knew he should not be carried from place to place; he was large enough to walk. Yet when he sat down in a flower-bed or in the middle of the chapel and announced that he was tired, it was obviously impossible to leave him there. At the suggestion of Sister Philomene they tried this plan once or twice. But as young Frederick had immediately fallen into a pleasant slumber, the experiment could hardly be called a success, especially as half the nuns in the institution were unable to concentrate their minds on anything else while it was in progress.

Another point which greatly disturbed them was his insistence on being rocked to sleep. This was a highly improper performance. They all knew that, and each could have quoted excellent authority for the conviction. The thing to do, without question, was to put the child in his crib, tell him he must go to sleep, and leave him there to do it. There could, of course, be no objection to one's remaining outside the door and listening until all was quiet.