The Reverend Mother took the place that Mother Mary Hilda had left, and by her very manner of sitting down, showed that she had come on some special intention.

“Miss Innes, I have come to ask you not to leave to-morrow.  If you are not already tired of our life, it would give us great pleasure if you would stay with us till Monday.”

“It is very good of you to ask me to stay, I have been very happy; indeed, I dread returning; it is difficult to return to the life of the world after having seen what your life is here.”

“We should only be too happy if you will prolong your stay.  You are free to remain as long as you please.”

“Thank you, Reverend Mother, it is very good of you, but I cannot live here in idleness, walking about the garden.  What should I do if it were to rain?”

“It looks like rain to-day.  We have had a long term of fine weather.”

The nun’s old white hand lay on the table, a little crippled, but still a nervous, determined hand, and the pale, sparkling eyes looked so deep into the enigma of Evelyn’s soul that she lost her presence of mind; her breath came more quickly, and she hastily remembered that this retreat now drawing to a close had solved nothing, that the real solution of her life was as far off as ever.

“Then I may take it that you will stay with us till Monday.  I will not weary you with our repeated thanks for what you have done for us.  You know that we are very grateful, and shall never forget you in our prayers, but you will not mind my thanking you again for the pleasure your singing has given us.  You have sung every day.  You really have been very kind.”

“I beg of you not to mention it, Reverend Mother; to sing for you and all the dear sisters was a great pleasure to me.  I never enjoyed singing in a theatre so much.”

“I am glad you have enjoyed your stay, Miss Innes.  Your room will always be ready.  I hope you will often come to see us.”

“It will be a great advantage for me to come and stay with you from time to time.”  Neither spoke for a time, then Evelyn said, “Reverend Mother, is it not strange that I should have come back to this convent, my old convent?  I never forgot it.  I often wondered if I should come here again.  When I was here before, it was just as now; it was in a great crisis of my life.  It was just before I left home, just before I went to Paris to learn singing.  I don’t know if Monsignor has told you that I have decided to leave the stage.”

“Monsignor has entrusted you to me, and I should like to count you as one of my children.  All the nuns tell me their little troubles.  Though I have guessed there must be some great trouble in your life, I should like you to feel that you can tell me everything, if to do so can be the least help to you.”

Evelyn’s eyes brightened, and, trembling with emotion, she leaned across the table; the Reverend Mother took her hand, and the touch of that old benign hand was a delight, and she felt that she must confide her story.