The revelation was very sudden....  Sister Mary John seemed to find somebody in herself of whom she knew nothing, and a passion in herself unknown to her before.  Therefore, to the Prioress she went at once to tell her everything.

“Mother, I have come to ask you if you will transfer me to the Mother House in France.”

The Reverend Mother repeated the words in astonishment, and listened to Sister Mary John, who was telling her that she had found herself in sin.

“My life is falling to pieces, Mother, and I can only save myself by going away.”

A shipwreck this was, indeed, for all the Prioress’s plans!  If Sister Mary John left, how was Evelyn to be persuaded to take the veil?  “At every moment I am confronted with some unexpected obstacle.”  She tried to argue with Sister Mary John; but the nun was convinced she must go.  So the only thing to do was to make terms.

“Teresa must know nothing of what has happened, on that I insist.  There is too much of this kind of thing going on in my convent; I have heard of it among the younger nuns, all are thinking of visions.  But among you women, who have been in the convent for many years, I had thought—­”

“Mother, we are all weak; the flesh errs, and all we can do is to check ourselves, to pray, and take such measures as will save us from falling into sin again.  Of what you said just now about the younger nuns I know nothing, nor has any vision been vouchsafed to me, only I have stumbled.”

The Prioress did not answer; she was thinking how Sister Mary John might be transferred.

“Mrs. Cater is going to France next month, you can travel with her.”

“So a month must pass!  I thought of leaving to-day or to-morrow, but I see that is impossible.  A month!  How shall I endure it?”

“No one will know,” the Prioress answered, with a little vehemence.  “It is a secret between us, I repeat, and I forbid you to tell any one the reason of your leaving.  Teresa will be professed in a few weeks, I hope; she has reached the critical moment of her life, and her mind must not be disturbed.  The raising of such a question, at such a time, might be fatal to her vocation.”

The Prioress rose from her chair, and, following Sister Mary John to the door, impressed upon her again that it was essential that no one should ever know why she had left the convent.

“You can tell Teresa before you leave, but she must hear nothing of it till the moment of your leaving.  I give you permission merely to say goodbye to her on the day you leave, and in the interval you will see as little of each other as possible.”

But when Sister Mary John said that Sister Elizabeth could accompany Evelyn as well as she could, the Prioress interrupted her.

“You must always accompany her when she sings at Benediction; you must do nothing to let her suspect that you are leaving the convent on her account.  You promise me this?  You can tell her what you like, of course when you are leaving, but not before.  Of course, there is no use arguing with you again, Sister Mary John.  You are determined, I can see that; but I do assure you that your leaving us is a sore trial to us, more than you think for.”