The hours wore on, and still Sister Agatha remained lost in thought, wondering what new ideas had been put into that young head.  “Perhaps she was right.  Vanity and pride!  How frightful the words sound!  We never know ourselves as well as we do others; so, after all, the child has given me a good lesson.  I must look into my own heart more thoroughly, and be more severe with myself, before I presume to advise and guide other people.  Lord, help me to a right knowledge of my duty to Thee!”

She extinguished the light, and sought repose from her anxieties.

CHAPTER V.

A week passed quietly by, and the excitement caused by Brother Daniel’s departure had given place to the usual monotonous religious routine.  During this time things had gone badly with Adele.  Self-control and obedience were things entirely new to her, and she felt by no means attracted towards the young girls about her, always excepting Carmen.  The predilection which her mother had shown for the latter had quickly communicated itself to the daughter, and Carmen, in return, feeling that she could never be sufficiently grateful to Frau von Trautenau for her kindness, showed every possible favor to Adele.  This young lady’s naturally vivacious and merry disposition, which was not at all subdued by the calm seriousness which surrounded her, proved a great source of amusement to Carmen.  She gladly reciprocated the warm affection lavished upon her by the petted heiress, and every letter which reached Wolmershain teemed with the pleasure the two friends took in each other’s society.  Adele told how Carmen had passed her eighteenth birthday, and now wore pink instead of red; how Carmen had undertaken to teach some of the English classes, and how all the girls loved their new teacher, etc., etc.

Carmen’s natural cheerfulness had not been disturbed by the communication Sister Agatha had made to her in regard to Brother Jonathan.  The morning after, Sister Agatha asked if she had considered the matter well, and prayed over it; to which Carmen answered in the affirmative, but persisted in her positive refusal; to which Brother Jonathan submitted with apparent calmness.  If he felt at all mortified, he certainly exerted immense self-control, for he seemed the same as usual, and his voice was clear and firm; so that Agatha felt sure that it was only his great unselfishness which had prompted him to entertain the idea.

His profession took him frequently to the Sisters’ house, but when there he had intercourse only with the nurses and patients.  ’Tis true he now came oftener than formerly, and at more irregular hours, on the plea of looking after this or that which he had forgotten; but as he, with silent tread, passed along through the halls, he seldom met any of the Sisters, and Carmen never.