Sister Agnes advanced a step or two and held out her arms.  “My darling!” was all she said as she pressed Janet to her heart, and kissed her again and again.  They understood each other without words.  The feeling within them was too deep to find expression in any commonplace greeting.

The excitement of the meeting was too much for the strength of Sister Agnes.  She was obliged to lie down again.  Janet sat by her side, caressing one of her wasted hands.

“Your coming has made me very, very happy,” murmured Sister Agnes after a time.

“Through all the seven dreary years of my school life,” said Janet, “the expectation of some day seeing you again was the one golden dream that the future held before me.  That dream has now come true.  How I have looked forward to this day none save those who have been circumstanced as I have can more than faintly imagine.”

“Are you at all acquainted with Lady Chillington’s intentions in asking you to come to Deepley Walls?”

“Not in the least.  A fortnight ago I had no idea that I should so soon be here.  I knew that I could not stay much longer at the Pension Clissot, and naturally wondered what instructions Madame Delclos would receive from Lady Chillington as to my disposal.  The last time I saw her ladyship, her words seemed to imply that, after my education should be finished, I should have to trust to my own exertions for earning a livelihood.  In fact, I have looked upon myself all along as ultimately destined to add one more unit to the great tribe of governesses.”

“Such a fate shall not be yours if my weak arm has power to avert it,” said Sister Agnes.  “For the present your services are required at Deepley Walls, in the capacity of ‘companion’ to Lady Chillington—­in brief, to occupy the position held by me for so many years, but from which I am now obliged to secede on account of ill-health.”

Janet was almost too astounded to speak.

“Companion to Lady Chillington!  I!  Impossible!” was all that she could say.

“Why impossible, dear Janet?” asked Sister Agnes, with her low, sweet voice.  “I see no element of impossibility in such an arrangement.  The duties of the position have been filled by me for many years; they have now devolved upon you, and I am not aware of anything that need preclude your acceptance of them.”

“We are not all angels like you, Sister Agnes,” said Janet.  “Lady Chillington, as I remember, is a very peculiar woman.  She has no regard for the feelings of others, especially when those others are her inferiors in position.  She says the most cruel things she can think of and cares nothing how deeply they may wound.  I am afraid that she and I would never agree.”