The poor girl was overjoyed to meet her friends again, but how great was our astonishment and indignation when she informed us that she had never received a single line from home after she entered the school, nor did she ever know that we had called to see her until we informed her of the fact.  Whenever she expressed surprise that she did not hear from us, they told her that we had probably forgotten her, and strove to awaken in her mind feelings of indignation, suspicion and animosity.  Not succeeding in this, however, they informed her that her father had called, and expressed a wish that she should become a nun; that he did not think it best for her to return home again, nor did he even ask for a parting interview.

Confounded and utterly heart-broken, she would have given herself up to uncontrollable grief had she been allowed to indulge her feelings.  But even the luxury of tears was forbidden, and she was compelled to assume an appearance of cheerfulness, and to smile when her heart-strings were breaking.  We brought forward the letters we had received from time to time which we believed she had written.  She had never seen them, before, “and this,” said she, “is not my hand-writing.”  Of this fact she soon convinced us, but she said she had written letter after letter hoping for an answer, but no answer came.  She said she knew that the Superior examined all the letters written by the young ladies, but supposed they were always sent, after being read.  But it was now plain to be seen that those letters were destroyed, and others substituted in their place.

[Footnote:  Raffaele Ciocci, formerly a Benedictine Monk, in his “Narrative,” published by the American and Foreign Christian Union, relates a similar experience of his own, when in the Papal College of San Bernardo.

Being urged to sign “a deed of humility,” in which he was to renounce all his property and give it to the college, he says, “I knew not what to think of this “deed of humility.”  A thousand misgivings filled my mind, and hoping to receive from the notary an explanation that would assist me in fully comprehending its intention, I anxiously said, “I must request, sir, that you will inform me what is expected from me.  Tell me what is this deed—­ whether it be really a mere form, as has been represented to me, or if”—­Here the master arose, and in an imperious tone interrupted me, saying,—­“Do not be obstinate and rebellions, but obey.  I have already told you that when you assume the habit of the Order, the chapter ’de humititate’ shall be explained to you.  In this paper you have only to make a renunciation of all you possess on earth.”