Page:Elizabeth Jordan--Tales of the cloister.djvu/85

, but perhaps the girls will think it's my valedictory that I've been working on so hard." This was a joke, for I was in high spirits, but Sister Chrysostom never smiled. I think she might have. She merely looked at me strangely, and said very slowly:

"You extraordinary girl—I really believe it might be done." Then she turned, with a queer, almost desperate gesture, and whispered to herself, "It cannot be wrong, for I know the child needs me."

I could hardly believe my ears. Can you imagine it? And doesn't it prove what I said about her being a woman of the world? There she was, taking it quietly, when any other nun— But there is no use of making comparisons, for at the mere suggestion I think any other nun in the convent would have fainted.

She went on very coolly, though there was a queer, excited look in her eyes:

"You could bring the bundle into this music-room, because it is the one nearest the main entrance. It could be put away in the closet until I need it. Just before three I could slip in here, take off my veil and head-piece, leave them in the closet, put on the ulster, the hat, the veil (it must be very heavy), the gloves—" Then she stopped and bit her lips. "But how