but said nothing about leaving us, and I do not believe she even thought of such a thing.  Little did I think, when she left us, that I was never to see her again.  But so it was.  In just two hours and a half from that time, we were told that she was dead and buried, and another filled her place!  A probable story, truly!  I wonder if they thought we believed it!  But whether we did or not, that was all we could ever know about it.  No allusion was ever made to the subject, and nuns are not allowed to ask questions.  However excited we might feel, no information could we seek as to the manner of her death.  Whether she died by disease, or by the hand of violence; whether her gentle spirit peacefully winged its way to the bosom of its God, or was hastily driven forth upon the dagger’s point, whether some kind friend closed her eyes in death, and decently robed her cold limbs for the grave, or whether torn upon the agonizing rack, whether she is left to moulder away in some dungeon’s gloom, or thrown into the quickly consuming fire, we could never know.  These, and many other questions that might have been asked, will never be answered until the last great day, when the grave shall give up its dead, and, the prison disclose its secrets.

After the consecration we were separated, and only one of the girls remained with me.  The others I never saw again.  We were put into a large room, where were three beds, one large and two small ones.  In the large bed the Superior slept, while I occupied one of the small beds and the other little nun the other.  Our new Superior was very strict, and we were severely punished for the least trifle—­such, for instance, as making a noise, either in our own room or in the kitchen.  We might not even smile, or make motions to each other, or look in each other’s face.  We must keep our eyes on our work or on the floor, in token of humility.  To look a person full in the face was considered an unpardonable act of boldness.  On retiring for the night we were required to lie perfectly motionless.  We might not move a hand or foot, or even a finger.  At twelve the bell rang for prayers, when we must rise, kneel by our beds, and repeat prayers until the second bell, when we again retired to rest.  On cold winter nights these midnight prayers were a most cruel penance.  It did seem as though I should freeze to death.  But live or die, the prayers must be said, and the Superior was always there to see that we were not remiss in duty.  If she slept at all I am sure it must have been with one eye open, for she saw everything.  But if I obeyed in this thing, I found it impossible to lie as still as they required; I would move when I was asleep without knowing it.  This of course could not be allowed, and for many weeks I was strapped down to my bed every night, until I could sleep without the movement of a muscle.  I was very anxious to do as nearly right as possible, for I thought if they saw that I strove with all my might to obey,