Salome, pale, and trembling with excitement, sank into the nearest chair.

“You do not fear to meet the duke, my child?” inquired the abbess, uneasily, as she also dropped into her seat.

“Fear to meet my own magnanimous husband?  Oh, no, no!  I do not fear to meet him; but I long to meet him with an infinite longing!” fervently exclaimed Salome.

“I am very glad to hear you say so.  And you are sure of his prompt and full forgiveness?” said the abbess, softly.

“‘Sure of his forgiveness!’” echoed Salome, with a holy and happy smile.  “Yes, as sure of his forgiveness as I am of the Lord’s pardon!”

“And yet when he hears the truth and understands all, he will know that he has nothing to forgive.  And he should know and understand everything before he sees you.  For this reason, as well as for several others, I have brought you here, and I advise you to seclude yourself yet for a few hours.  I do not wish you to see the duke, or even to advise him of your presence in the house, until he has seen the dying man and heard the confession of the truth from his lips.  That confession will prepare your husband to receive and understand you, better than any explanation you could possibly make would do.  It will also save you from the distress of having to make a long explanation.  Do you understand me, my child?”

“Yes, dear mother, I understand, and thank you for your wise counsels.”

“I have also given directions to Sister Dominica that after he shall have concluded his interview with Mr. Scott, and partaken of dinner, which will be prepared for him in the receiving parlor, he shall be requested to meet me in the portress’ room, where I propose to break to him the intelligence of your presence in the house.”

“Thanks, dear mother! infinite, eternal thanks for all your great goodness to me,” fervently exclaimed Salome.

“You are much too extravagant in your expressions of gratitude, my daughter!  You exaggerate like a school-girl!” smiled the abbess.

“Oh!  I will prove by my acts that I do not exaggerate my feelings at least!” persisted Salome.

And then, with girlish enthusiasm, she began to tell the lady-superior all she intended to do for the benefit of the convent charities, and especially for the “Infants’ Asylum.”

The vesper-bell summoned them to chapel, where the evening service occupied them for an hour.

They then went to the refectory, and joined the sisterhood at tea.

In coming from the refectory, they were met in the corridor by old Sister Dominica, who stopped the abbess, respectfully, and said: 

“I come, holy mother, to report to you that I have followed all your instructions.  Monseigneur le Duc and Monsieur le Docteur have well dined.  Monsieur le Docteur has returned to his patient, Monseigneur le Duc has gone to the wicket-room to await madame, our holy mother.”