Page:The Pacific Monthly volumes 1-3.djvu/51

 she yet found all her own planning futile, over-ruled or set aside as by a strong, invisible hand. And her fortune, too. Harriet had called her a "rich widow," and she was puzzled, for she did not understand how it could be, or where her fortune came from, if she really had one. Robert had told her that he had nothing that he did not earn, and his salary was not large, barely sufficient to pay their combined expenses, and yet she could not deny that she lacked for nothing. It was in her mind to question the mother superior concerning this seeming mystery, but something held her dumb. Perhaps it was a vague intuition that her questions would be ignored.

They talked of other things presently; of the places she was to visit, of Italy and of the holy father, the pope, whom Mother Elizabeth had seen once in her youth, and of the wonders of Rome — the churches, the palaces and the pictures. When at last Virginia said good night and went away to her own little cell-like room she was as eager to see the world as Harriet herself.

The journey to New York was accomplished without accident or adventure of any sort, much to Harriet's expressed disappointment.

"Never mind," she confided to Virginia, "just wait till we get out from under the shadowing wing of Sister Agatha, and we will create a sensation."

"We will do nothing of the kind," replied Virginia, with unexpected firmness. "If we cannot be trusted to conduct ourselves with becoming modesty we will return to Montreal with Sister Agatha."

"Dear me!" cried Harriet, "I didn't mean that we were to do anything shocking or bold. Only you know yourself that people fight shy of nuns."

They were in the parlor of the hotel, waiting for Sister Agatha. They stopped their discussion as she entered, and were surprised to note that she was not alone. At her side walked a Catholic priest.

Something in his face and manner struck Virginia as oddly familiar; but it was not until she heard him speak that she recalled where and when she had met him before. At sound of his voice the memory rushed back upon her of the fair October morning, when she had stood under the oak trees with Robert's arm around her, and this man's words had made them one. She felt again the warm air on her cheek and brow, and heard the crickets in the grass and the laughter of the debonnaire youth gaily bidding Robert lead his bride out into the sunshine. And swift on this another face flashed before her, and then was gone; the dark, handsome face of Robert's friend, whom she had seen just that once, and to whom, Robert always insisted, he owed everything.

If the priest recognized her he gave no sign. He expressed his pleasure at being able to act as their escort on the coming voyage; made a few commonplace remarks concerning the probable state of the weather, and left them.

They were to sail next morning. There was some necessary shopping to be done, that occupied the afternoon, and it was not until the sisters were in their own room and preparing to retire that Harriet ventured to express herself.

"Are we never to get rid of the Catholics?" she cried. "Sister Agatha is bad enough, but a priest! It is simply beyond human patience to endure. I shall shock him fifty times a minute; I know I shall. I am not used to priests. Why don't you assert yourself and tell them we are quite capable of taking care of ourselves?"

"Because," replied Virginia, seriously, "I am not sure that we are, and, besides, I am too grateful to Mother Elizabeth for providing us with an escort on this long journey."

"Oh, well, if you take that view of the case, I shall have to make the best of it, I suppose. However, I'm thankful for one thing. He's handsome as a Greek god, and I mean to flirt with him all the way over."

"Harriet!" exclaimed her sister, shocked beyond the power of words to express. "Is nothing sacred to you?"

"Not even the priesthood? Don't look so horrified. A priest is only a man, in spite of his dress, and your Father Roquet is a very handsome man, an unusually handsome man. It's a shame the Catholic priesthood is sworn to celibacy. I think I'd prefer Father Roquet to a duel coronet or even to Billy Spencer."