The incident was little noticed by Salome at the time, although it was destined to have a serious effect upon her after fate.

In a few minutes the train started.

“My dear child,” recommenced Sister Josephine, as soon as the train was well under way—­“my dear child, how is it possible that I find you here, alone on the train at midnight!  Were you going on to Paris, and alone?  Was any one to meet you there?”

“Dear, good Sister Josephine, ask me no questions yet.  I am ill—­really and truly ill!” sighed Salome.

“Ah!  I see you are, my dear child.  Ill and alone on the night train!  Holy Virgin preserve us!” said the sister, devoutly crossing herself.

“Ask me no questions yet, dear sister, because I cannot answer them.  But take me with you wherever you go, for wherever that may be, there will be peace and rest and safety, I know!  Say, will you take me with you, good Sister Josephine?” pleaded Salome.

“Ah! surely we will, my child.  With much joy we will.  We—­(Sister Francoise and Sister Felecitie—­Mademoiselle Laiveesong,)” said Sister Josephine, stopping to introduce her companions to each other.

The three young persons thus named bowed and smiled, and pressed palms, and then sat back in their seats, while the elder Sister, Josephine, continued: 

“We have come up from Fontevrau, and are now going straight on to our convent.  With joy we will take you with us, my dear child.  Our holy mother will be transported to see you.  Does she expect you, my dear child?” inquired the sister, forgetting her tacit promise to ask no more questions.

“No, no one expects me,” sighed the fugitive, in so faint a voice that the good Sister forbore to make any more inquiries for the moment.

The train rushed onward.  Day was broadening.  The horizon was growing red in the east.

The party travelled on in silence for some ten or fifteen minutes, and then, Sister Josephine growing impatient to have her curiosity satisfied, made a few leading remarks.

“And so you were coming to us unannounced by any previous communication to our holy mother?  And coming alone on the night train!  You possess a noble courage, my child, but the adventure was hazardous to a young and lovely unmarried woman.  The Virgin be praised we met you when we did!” said the Sister, devoutly crossing herself.

“Amen, and amen, to that!” sighed Salome.

“Our holy mother will be overjoyed to see you.  You are sure she does not expect you, my dear child?”

“No, Sister, she does not expect me, unless she has the gift of second sight.  For I did not expect myself to return to St. Rosalie, to-day, or ever.  When I took my place in this carriage at midnight, I did not know how far I should go, or where I should stop.  I took a through ticket to Paris; but I did not know whether I should stop at Paris, or go on to Marseilles, or Rome, or St. Petersburg, or New York, or where!” moaned the fugitive.